Golden Histories, etc By Wathen Mark Wilks Call |
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The Golden City
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 | Golden Histories, etc |  |
241
The Golden City
He shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending
out of Heaven from God, having the glory of God.”—Revelation.
On the green country of the dead I look;
Earth sleeps, and there is silence all around,
I only hear the music of the brook,
I listen, but I hear no other sound.
Earth sleeps, and there is silence all around,
I only hear the music of the brook,
I listen, but I hear no other sound.
I look on heaven, I see the ancient Moon,
I see the eternal Stars, each on his throne;
My spirit fails, I hear no more the tune
Of that sweet brook; earth fades; I am alone.
I see the eternal Stars, each on his throne;
My spirit fails, I hear no more the tune
Of that sweet brook; earth fades; I am alone.
I am alone, far off in some strange land,
Some world of dream, both like and unlike ours;
I hear a music none may understand,
A sound of waters gliding among flowers.
Some world of dream, both like and unlike ours;
I hear a music none may understand,
A sound of waters gliding among flowers.
Glorified multitudes of perfect men,
Giants in intellect, but babes in heart,
Are wandering through a green and sunny glen,
Basking in splendour never to depart.
Giants in intellect, but babes in heart,
Are wandering through a green and sunny glen,
Basking in splendour never to depart.
245
Luminous spirits, angels darkly bright,
And gliding shapes with glories round their head.
And prophets standing in a cloudy light,
And poets that gaze upwards as they tread.
And gliding shapes with glories round their head.
And prophets standing in a cloudy light,
And poets that gaze upwards as they tread.
Far in the distance, even as a star,
A golden city rears its giant towers.
The lightning of its glory shines afar,
I see its wondrous domes, its happy bowers!
A golden city rears its giant towers.
The lightning of its glory shines afar,
I see its wondrous domes, its happy bowers!
No sun is there to light it, not a ray
Falls or from moon or star; it never knows
The death or resurrection of the day,
But in one everlasting summer glows.
Falls or from moon or star; it never knows
The death or resurrection of the day,
But in one everlasting summer glows.
Silent it lies—a wondrous splendour broods
Over each sapphire dome and minaret,
A splendour as of beauteous multitudes
Of setting suns, still setting, never set.
Over each sapphire dome and minaret,
A splendour as of beauteous multitudes
Of setting suns, still setting, never set.
Wondering I turned away, a Shape drew near—
“O son of man, what seest thou?” he said;
I answered not the Shape for very fear,
For awful was the glory round his head.
“O son of man, what seest thou?” he said;
I answered not the Shape for very fear,
For awful was the glory round his head.
“Fear not, O child of Earth!” the spirit cried;
Then spake I, slowly gathering up my powers,
“Spirit, where am I?” “Mortal,” he replied,
“I dare not name to thee this land of ours;
Then spake I, slowly gathering up my powers,
“Spirit, where am I?” “Mortal,” he replied,
“I dare not name to thee this land of ours;
246
“But if aught else thou wouldest understand,
“I will reveal it, if thou question me.”
“Then asked I, “What is that triumphant band,
“Whose is that golden city that I see?”
“I will reveal it, if thou question me.”
“Then asked I, “What is that triumphant band,
“Whose is that golden city that I see?”
“What are those glorious Shapes, broad-browed, heaveneyed,
“Who seek that city, so serenely bright?”
“They are the morning-stars of God,” he cried,
“They are the children of the primal light.
“Who seek that city, so serenely bright?”
“They are the morning-stars of God,” he cried,
“They are the children of the primal light.
“This is the church of the eternal Priest,
“These are the nations of the only King,
“These are the banquetters at his great feast,
“These are the minstrels that his praises sing.
“These are the nations of the only King,
“These are the banquetters at his great feast,
“These are the minstrels that his praises sing.
“That is the golden city of the free,
“Come down from heaven to be man's bright abode.”
“What is the wondrous splendour that I see?”
“The shadow of the beauty men call God.”
“Come down from heaven to be man's bright abode.”
“What is the wondrous splendour that I see?”
“The shadow of the beauty men call God.”
He ceast, and lo, the vision faded fast,
The golden city faded from my view,
Each beauteous figure, as it swiftly past,
Dim and yet dimmer in the distance grew.
The golden city faded from my view,
Each beauteous figure, as it swiftly past,
Dim and yet dimmer in the distance grew.
And now once more upon the earth I look,
I see the Church asleep beneath the moon,
I see the patient moon—the unseen brook
Plays to the quiet woods its pleasant tune.
I see the Church asleep beneath the moon,
I see the patient moon—the unseen brook
Plays to the quiet woods its pleasant tune.
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Eternal blessings, reverent church! be thine:
O patient moon, my blessing be with thee,
For thou hast raised within this soul of mine
A vision that I never hoped to see.
O patient moon, my blessing be with thee,
For thou hast raised within this soul of mine
A vision that I never hoped to see.
And often when my spirit is brought low,
And when my human heart is out of tune,
Shall I behold that moon in beauty glow,
And see the church asleep beneath the moon.
And when my human heart is out of tune,
Shall I behold that moon in beauty glow,
And see the church asleep beneath the moon.
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