XXX. THE HOLY ANGELS.
I
Angels and Thrones and holy Powers
And Ministers of light—
God's primal sons and mystic bands
In various orders bright,
And hidden Splendours wheeling round
In circles infinite—
II
Celestial priests and seraph kings
In links of glory twine:
And Spirits of departed men
In saintly lustre shine,
With Angels dear that fold their wings
Above the awful Shrine—
III
Chariots of living flame that fill
The mountain's hollow side,
Breezes that to the battle-field
Over the forest ride,
Spirits that from the Bridegroom come
To wait upon the Bride—
IV
These are among us and around
In earth and sea and air,
At fast and feast and holy rite
And lonely vigil prayer,
Morning and noon and dead of night
Crowding the heavenly stair.
V
In solemn hours and paths remote,
Where worldly sounds are still,
There comes to us from Spirits nigh
A contact pure and chill,
A touch that to the inmost sense
Runs with unearthly thrill.
VI
Yet man will deem himself alone—
That earth so fair and wide
Was made for him to have unshared
His glory and his pride,
That he alone, supreme below,
To Heaven should be allied.
VII
And wouldst thou grudge, poor selfish heart,
To share thy lonely sway,
And scorn the visitants that come
On earth with thee to stay—
The Beings meek and beautiful
That follow on thy way?
VIII
There's many a lake to Heaven looks up
With bright and earnest eye
Upon the solitary tops
Of mountains steep and high,
And many a plant and flower that bloom
Where man was never nigh.
IX
All day and night the lovely clouds
In curious shapes are blending,
And coloured lights through forest bewers
Are every hour descending,
Where none are by but Angel forms,
God's glorious road attending.
X
Oh! well it is that they for love
Of man's cold heart are weeping:
And it shall please me, Lord! to think,
While my dull eyes are sleeping,
Angels for Thine eternal praise
Eternal watch are keeping!
