Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

A cloudy pillar before Israel went,
An Angel kept Tobias in the way,
A star led up the Magians to the tent,
Wherein new-born the Child of Glory lay:
Therefore the wayfarers will always say,
Praise be to him who guides his servants' feet,
Who keeps them that no evil may assay
To do them harm—when storm or hot rays beat,
A refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat.

II

On Saxon soil her journey had begun,
A gentle pilgrim on an holy quest,
Nor will she that long journey's end have won
Until Alsatian soil her feet have prest;
This maiden there would be a convent's guest,
Whereof the glory far and wide is told,
And there she would take up her lasting rest,
For there, while love of many has grown cold,
The earnest discipline of ancient times they hold.

III

And others in her company there were,
An aged kinsman—and, intent on gain,
Some merchants with them the same way did fare;
Till once when night o'ertook them in the plain,

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No shelter won, the merchants then were fain
Re-seek their lodging lately left behind:
The holy pilgrims might not so restrain
Their eager steps, but trusted well to find,
Ere night was fully come, some shelter to their mind.

IV

But sooner than they looked for, thickest night
Fell—and they gazed around them, if perchance
The lowliest cottage might appear in sight,
For now return they could not, nor advance:
When of a sudden, on that plain's expanse,
A palace of surpassing beauty rare
Seemed to stand up before them at a glance.
Then gladly did they thitherward repair,
Hoping to find due rest and needful succour there.

V

And being there arrived, they marvelled much,
For doors and windows open wide they found,
And all without doors and within was such,
With such perfection of fresh beauty crowned,
As though in that day's space from out the ground
New-risen.—Entering in, they wondering saw
How all things for life's use did there abound,
But inmate none appearing, they for awe
And secret fear wellnigh were tempted to withdraw.

VI

But when they for a season waited had,
Behold! a Matron of majestic air,
Of regal port, in regal garments clad,
Entered alone—who, when they would declare,

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With reverence meet, what need had brought them there
At such untimely hour, smiling replied,
That she already was of all aware;
And added, she was pleased and satisfied
That they to be her guests that night had turned aside.

VII

And ere the meal she spread for them was done,
Upon a sudden One there entered there,
Whose countenance with marvellous beauty shone,
More than the sons of men divinely fair,
And all whose presence did the likeness wear
Of Angel more than man:—he too, with bland
Mild words saluted them and gracious air;
Sweet comfort, solemn awe, went hand in hand,
While in his presence did those wondering pilgrims stand.

VIII

Then turning to that Matron, as a son
Might to a mother speak familiarly,
He spake to her—they only heard the tone,
Not listening, out of reverent courtesy:
And then with smile of large benignity
Saluting them again he left the place,
And was not more seen by them—only she,
That Matron, stayed and talked with them a space,
Whose words were full of sweetness and of heavenly grace.

IX

And then she showed them chambers for their rest,
And did not that tired maiden then forget
To take, and lead apart, her weary guest;
And pointing where a ready couch was set,

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She with her own hands spread the coverlet
Above her, bidding her till morning rose
That she should render unto sleep his debt,
And suffer him her heavy lids to close;
Then, with a blessing given, she left them to repose.

X

The morning come, she bade them rise anon,
For now their fellow-travellers were in sight,
Journeying that way, and would be quickly gone—
The merchants whom they quitted yesternight;
Refreshed they rose to meet the early light,
And to rejoin their company prepared:
But first due thanks they tendered, as was right,
To her who had for them so amply cared:
And with those thankful hearts forth on their way they fared.

XI

So they set forward from that stately hall,
And now had journeyed for a little space,
When musing much and wondering much at all
Which had befall'n them there, they turned their face
Its fair proportions once again to trace—
When lo! with newer awe their hearts were filled,
For it had wholly vanished from its place,
Like some cloud-palace that the strong winds build,
Which to unmake again they presently have willed.

XII

While this new admiration them did seize,
They saw some nobles of the land that way
Come riding; straightway they inquired of these,
If they had never seen, nor yet heard say

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Of some great dome that in that quarter lay;
But these to them made answer constantly,
How they had ridden past by night and day,
But that such stately hall might nowhere be,
Only the level plain, such as they now might see.

XIII

Thereat from them did thankful utterance break,
And with one voice they praised his tender care
Who had upreared a palace for their sake,
And of that pomp and cost did nothing spare,
Though but to guard them from one night's cold air—
And had no ministries of love disdained;
And 'twas their thought, if some have unaware
Angels for guests received with love unfeigned,
That they had been by more than Angels entertained.