BOOK THE SECOND.
57
Treading, and Storms beneath their feet, they soar
Higher, and higher soar, and soaring sing
Loud Songs of Triumph! O ye Spirits of God,300
Hover around my mortal agonies!"
She spake: and instantly faint melody
Melts on her ear, soothing, and sad, and slow,
Such measures as at calmy midnight heard
By aged Hermit in his holy dream305
Foretell and solace death: and now they rise
Louder, as when with harp and mingled voice
The white-rob'd multitude of slaughter'd Saints
At Heaven's wide-open'd portals gratulant
Receive some martyr'd Patriot.[1] The harmony310
Entranc'd the maid, 'till each suspended sense
Brief slumber seiz'd and confus'd extacy.
At length awak'ning slow she gaz'd around;
But lo! no more was seen the ice-pil'd mount.
H
And
- ↑ Line 310. Revel. vi. 9, 11. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held. And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little Season, until their fellow-servants also, and their Brethren that should be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled.
