| |
| THEN earth and heaven were rolled up like a scroll; | |
| Time and space, change and death, had passed away; | |
| Weight, number, measure, each had reached its whole; | |
| The day had come, that day. | |
| |
| Multitudes—multitudes—stood up in bliss, | 5 |
| Made equal to the angels, glorious, fair; | |
| With harps, palms, wedding-garments, kiss of peace, | |
| And crowned and haloed hair. | |
| |
| They sang a song, a new song in the height, | |
| Harping with harps to Him who is strong and true: | 10 |
| They drank new wine, their eyes saw with new light, | |
| Lo, all things were made new. | |
| |
| Tier beyond tier they rose and rose and rose | |
| So high that it was dreadful, flames with flames: | |
| No man could number them, no tongue disclose | 15 |
| Their secret sacred names. | |
| |
| As though one pulse stirred all, one rush of blood | |
| Fed all, one breath swept through them myriad-voiced, | |
| They struck their harps, cast down their crowns, they stood | |
| And worshipped and rejoiced. | 20 |
| |
| Each face looked one way like a moon new-lit, | |
| Each face looked one way towards its Sun of Love; | |
| Drank love, and bathed in love, and mirrored it, | |
| And knew no end thereof. | |
| |
| Glory touched glory on each blessèd head, | 25 |
| Hands locked dear hands never to sunder more, | |
| These were the new-begotten from the dead | |
| Whom the great birthday bore. | |
| |
| Heart answered heart, soul answered soul at rest | |
| Double against each other, filled, sufficed: | 30 |
| All loving, loved of all; but loving best | |
| And best beloved of Christ. | |
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