The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan In Two Volumes. With a Portrait |
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 | The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan |  |
II.
As they climb'd through the snows to his cell, they could hear
His voice ringing clear,
In a hymn to the Lord who for ever seem'd near.
His voice ringing clear,
In a hymn to the Lord who for ever seem'd near.
They enter'd and saw him. He sat like a wight
Who beholds some strange sight—
Face fix'd, his eyes shining, most peaceful and bright!
Who beholds some strange sight—
Face fix'd, his eyes shining, most peaceful and bright!
‘O brother! what makes thee so happy?’ they cried.
With a smile he replied:
‘The Lord who so loves me, my Guardian and Guide!
With a smile he replied:
‘The Lord who so loves me, my Guardian and Guide!
‘He comes in the night and He comes in the day
From his Heaven far away;
I feel His soft touch on my hair, as I pray.
From his Heaven far away;
I feel His soft touch on my hair, as I pray.
‘He smiles with grave eyes like my father long dead,
His hand bows my head,
From the breath of His nostrils a blessing is shed!’
His hand bows my head,
From the breath of His nostrils a blessing is shed!’
Through their ranks as they listened a cold shudder ran,
And the murmur began:
‘Can God have the touch and the breath of a man?
And the murmur began:
‘Can God have the touch and the breath of a man?
‘No soul can conceive Him, no sight may descry
The Most Strange, the Most High,
Not the quick when they live, not the holy who die.’
The Most Strange, the Most High,
Not the quick when they live, not the holy who die.’
But Serapion answer'd: ‘I hear and I see;
He comes hourly to me;
He speaks in mine ear, as I pray on my knee!’
He comes hourly to me;
He speaks in mine ear, as I pray on my knee!’
They murmur'd: ‘Blaspheme not! He dwells far away;
None fathom Him may;
For He is not as man, nor is fashion'd of clay.
None fathom Him may;
For He is not as man, nor is fashion'd of clay.
29
‘Can the God we conceive not have ears and have eyes?
Who sayeth so, lies!
Cast thy heresy off, hear our words, and be wise!
Who sayeth so, lies!
Cast thy heresy off, hear our words, and be wise!
‘For God is not flesh, as His worshippers be—
Nay, a Spirit is He,
Not shapen for mortals to hear or to see.
Nay, a Spirit is He,
Not shapen for mortals to hear or to see.
‘Inconceivable, Holy, Divine evermore,
All His works ruling o'er;
Yet by these we conceive Him, and darkly adore.’
All His works ruling o'er;
Yet by these we conceive Him, and darkly adore.’
Then Serapion answer'd: ‘How strange! For He seems,
In my beautiful dreams,
To be near, with a kind face that brightens and beams!’
In my beautiful dreams,
To be near, with a kind face that brightens and beams!’
They murmur'd: ‘These fancies are false and abhorred;
Since the God who is Lord
Neither face hath nor form, though His wrath is a sword!
Since the God who is Lord
Neither face hath nor form, though His wrath is a sword!
‘Put the vision behind thee! Be sure no man's eye
Can conceive or descry
What is hidden from angels of God in the sky!’
Can conceive or descry
What is hidden from angels of God in the sky!’
But Serapion answer'd: ‘He comes to my prayer:
He is kind, He is fair;
His smile is as sunlight, that sleeps on the air.
He is kind, He is fair;
His smile is as sunlight, that sleeps on the air.
‘Not as men, but more splendid and stately and tall
Is the Father of all.
He walks on the snows with a solemn footfall!’
Is the Father of all.
He walks on the snows with a solemn footfall!’
But they cried: ‘By some fiend is thy solitude stirred!
Shall the Light and the Word,
The Spirit Almighty, be seen and be heard?
Shall the Light and the Word,
The Spirit Almighty, be seen and be heard?
‘Put the vision aside; like a dream let it flit,
And the shadow of it;
Lest the heresy drive thee, accurst, to the Pit.’
And the shadow of it;
Lest the heresy drive thee, accurst, to the Pit.’
They spake and he listened. For nights and for days
He hark'd in amaze,
While they proved that a Phantom had gladden'd his gaze.
He hark'd in amaze,
While they proved that a Phantom had gladden'd his gaze.
At last all was clear, and his forehead was bent
In submissive assent.
They confess'd him and bless'd him, and joyfully went.
In submissive assent.
They confess'd him and bless'd him, and joyfully went.
| The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Buchanan | |