The In-Gathering Cimon and Pero: A Chain of Sonnets: Sebastopol etc. By John A. Heraud |
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THE BIBLE.
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| I. |
| II. |
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| IV. |
 | The In-Gathering |  |
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THE BIBLE.
AN ODE.
I.
1
God's Thoughts are Words; and, ere articulate air,The Spirit breathe, that syllables each tone—
And these are Angels, and for praise or prayer
Have Harps to hymn the Being, whence their own.
2
So Music was—like Wisdom beautiful,Lovelike—and to herself a spoken Light,
A Sun not seen but heard—nor dim, nor dull—
Albeit, save to the soul, dark, dumb as night.
3
Bring Psaltery—bring Dulcimer—Bring Timbrel, Cithern, Lyre—
And let them sing to mortal ear
The numbers that conspire
To lift our thoughts behind the sphere,
In the dread presence of the Eternal Sire,
That they, among the immortal Ones,
May join the Sport of Daughters and of Sons.
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II.
1
Sweet child is Music, uttering simple sounds,Half-insignificant, half-consciously;
But soon baptised, in meaning she abounds,
And Nymphs Castalian name her Poesy.
2
Thus, from twin lips in motion, Words enchantThe listening Ghost of caves auricular,
Who, thus impregned, conceives, in loneliest haunt,
Thoughts that embrace the Future and Afar.
3
Ah! Thoughts to Words gave primal birth,Nor Words would waken Thoughts in vain:
And as from Heaven descended Earth,
Earth so can rise to Heaven again;
And, whether thought or spoken forth,
Still Music liveth, loveth in the strain—
Now, boon and blithe, in bridal dance,
Fair Bridesmaids, and brave Paranymphs, advance.
III.
1
By truth thou hast been wooed, Celestial born!Once Music termed, then Poesy, and now
Another name shall crown thy marriage morn,
Religion, so called from thy spoken vow.
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2
And from the sacred union of your hearts,Is born Idea;—virgin evermore,
Yet do her Children visit heavenly parts,
With Angels wed, with Seraphim adore.
3
But still in Thoughts and Words of power,For Poesy and sounding Song
Thou keepest the Record of thy dower;
And what thine offspring learn among
The bowers on high, in rapture's hour,
Thus writest in cadence sweet and diction strong—
“In the Beginning He was heard,
And in the End shall be, that Living Word!”
| The In-Gathering | |