Wells, Soft Murmuring, From The Brook Of Siloa: 400 She Drank, And Feebly Opened Her Dark Eyes, Which Seemed More Large, For All Her Flesh Was Shrunk; Then She Looked Up, And Faintly Spoke Again; My Mother - And My Husband - And My Child - Are - And She Sobbed Aloud. By Him, I Cried, Who Rules Among The Gods, I Will Protect Thy Life With Mine! Her Tears Fell Fast And Warm Upon The Bloody Hand Which Held The Sword; The Other Checked My Fierce And Foaming Horse. Hark! Hark! A Turret Falls! Hark! Hark! Again - 410 They Shout, Ten Thousand Voices Rend The Skies, The Temple, The Proud Temple To The Ground! The Temple, The Proud Temple To The Dust! Her Infant She Had Taken From The Ground, To Lay It In Her Bosom, While The Tears Fell On Its Folded Hands; But When She Saw Still Its Wan Livid Lips, And The Same Glare Of Its Dead Eyes, She Turned Away Her Face, Half Looking Down, Half Raised To Heaven, And Shed Her Tears No More: One Hand As Thus She Sat, 420 With Fingers Spread, Held Fast Her Infant'S Arm, O'Er Its Right Shoulder, While Its Arid Lips She Drew, In Vain, Towards Her Open Breast, Still Fearing To Look Down: Her Other Hand, Instinctively, She Laid On Its Cold Feet, As If To Cherish Them: The Gouts Of Blood 426 Fell Heavy From Its Matted Hair, And Stained Her Bosom; But She Had Composed Its Hands, Which Now, Though Cold And Dead, Each Other Clasped, Beneath Her Neck, As Living. So She Sat, Nor Sighed, Nor Moved Her Face, Nor Shed A Tear I Gently Took The Infant From Her Arms, And Buried It Beside The Sacred Brook, And Then, With Muttered Prayer, She Turned And Wept - Wept, As Bereaved Of All She Loved On Earth! Fly! And I Placed Her On The Horse With Me - Leaving Behind The Sounds And Sights Of Death - The Shrieks Of Massacre, The Crash Of Towers Falling, The Heavy Sound Of Battering-Rams: We Passed The Victims, Blackening In The Sun, 440 And Some, Yet Breathing, On The Crucifix.[162] On, Through The Valley Of Jehoshaphat, I Spurred My Horse; We Passed The Sepulchre Of Lazarus, Restored From The Dark Grave, So Those Who Own The Faith Of Christ Affirm, With Eye-Balls Ghastly Glaring In The Light, At The Loud Voice Of Him Who Cried, Come Forth! We Held Our Eastern Way From Bethany, Till Now We Reached The "Plain Of Blood."[163] I Paused A Moment, Ere We Entered That Sad Plain. 450 Ah! There Are Tents Upon The Southern Edge Of The Horizon! Fly! It Is The Camp Of Arabs: See! With Long And Couched Spears, A Troop Is Flying O'Er The Sands! We Hear Their Cries - This Way They Rush - This Way - Fly! Fly! And Instant, As An Arrow Speeds, (My Pale Companion Breathless, And Scarce Held) We Bounded O'Er The Desert, Till The Track 458 Was Lost. The Voices Died Away: She Sank Faint In My Arms, And With Her Head Declined Upon My Breastplate. We Will Rest A While; For She Was Now So Feeble, It Behoved Thus Oft To Rest, If Haply She Might Feel Some Cool Reviving Airs Breathe On Her Face, Gently; A Few Dry Dates Were All Our Food. We Gazed In Silence On The Sun, That, Red, Was Sinking Now Beyond The Lonely Sands, And Hurriedly Again Renewed Our Flight. The Track Is Lost! Fear Not - Those Are The Bones, Not Of A Murdered Traveller. Look Out! 470 Is That A Cloud? Or Seest Thou Not The Smoke Of Some Lone Cottage On The Hills? List! List! Is It The Tinkle Of Some Rivulet, Wandering In Solitude? On, On, My Steed! We Reached The Hills, And, Looking Back, Beheld The Western Cope Of Heaven, As Night Came Down, All Fiery Red. It Was The Light, Far Off, Of The Proud Temple Flaming! Through The Night We Held Our Toiling Way, When, At Gray Dawn, We Saw, Beneath Us, Palms, And City Walls, 480 And Jordan, Slowly Flowing To The South. Yes! These Are Palms And Walls Of Jericho; But All Was Silent And Forsaken. War Had Blown His Trump; And Pity, At The Blast, Had Knelt In Tears, And Hid Her Face To Hear That Deep, Dire Groan; But It Is Heard No More, For Silence, Solitude, And Ruin Sit, Mocking Each Other, At The City Gates. Here Were No Murmurs Of Tumultuous Life. We Joined A Mourning Train, That Held Their Way, 490 Women, And Children, And White-Headed Men, Forlorn, By Jordan'S Banks, To Galilee, 492 Seeking The City Of Tiberias. With Many Tears, My Poor Companion Told Her Tale: A Daughter Of Jerusalem Implored Their Pity; And The Daggers, Raised To Pierce A Roman Soldier To The Heart, Were In The Act Arrested, For Her Sake - Trifosa, Of The Tribe Of Benjamin, Who Owed Her Life And Safety To His Sword. 500 We Reached The City: Here She Had A Friend, Widowed Like Her, Who Wept To Hear Her Tale. Here, Wedded, And By Israel'S Laws Made One, I Lived - A Fisher Toiling With His Net To Gain Our Daily Bread; But Soon My Heart Beat For A Wider Scene - For Enterprise, The Soul Of A Young Soldier; And With Thoughts Stirring And Restless, After Twelve Long Months, We Came, By Tabor, To The Western Sea. I Had A Robber'S Cavern At The Foot 510 Of Carmel, And Oft Skirred The Neighbouring Plains On My Fleet Battle-Horse, With Spurs Of Blood. Here I Was Joined By Soldiers, Desperate And Outcast As Myself; We Were A Band Of Secret And Of Fearful Brotherhood That Tenanted These Caverns. But My Wife, When We Were Absent, And The Cave Was Still, Wept, For The Love Of Those Who Were No More; Trembled, And Wept For Me. When I Returned, Weary, At Night, She Sat And Sang To Me; 520 And Sometimes, When She Was Alone Whole Days, She Wandered O'Er The Mountains, Gathering Flowers, Hyacinths, Lilies, And Anemones;[164] And When My Hands Were Bloody, Gave Me Them, With Trembling Hand, And Sadness In Her Look. 525 Why Should I Think, Or Sigh, Or Feel Remorse! Was I Not Leader Of The Bravest Band That Ever Shook Their Flashing Scymitars Against The Morning Sun! But, Oh! That Look! How Has It Thrilled, Even To My Inmost Heart: 530 One Child, The Pledge Of Warm Affection, Died, And Now She Roved In Morning Dew No More; And Oft, When I Returned With Gore-Stained Brow, I Saw A Strange, Sad Wandering In Her Eyes. Alas! Her Gentle Mind Was Gone! She Sang - She Gazed Upon My Face - She Smiled - She Died - And Her Last Words Were, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! I Buried Her In Peace, Without A Name, Among The Mountain Flowers. And Now My Heart Was Hardened As A Rock 540 Against The World. I Heard No Soothing Voice; I Never Looked Upon A Human Face With Tenderness Again; A Darker Shade Of Passions Gathered On My Lonely Heart, Till Love, And Charity, And Pity Died. I May Not Say What I Have Seen And Done: Here I Have Lived A Fettered Slave Seven Years; Here Thy Mild Voice Has Called Back To My Heart Sad Recollections. Father, - And He Knelt And Kissed His Withered Hand, And Cried Again, 550 Oh! Father, Pray For Me! The Stranger Stood Unmoved, But Tears Were On The Old Man'S Cheek. Part Third. The Sounds Of An Approaching Storm - Vision, Etc. The East Is Overcast; The Nearer Isles Are Hidden By A Sudden Spleen; The Clouds Upon Elijah'S Promontory[165] Now Are Mustering Gloomily; There Is A Sound Of Rain, And As, With Interrupted Gusts, The Winds Are Rising, A Long Murmur Comes, More Hollow, From The Seas; At Times A Wail, At Distance, Seems To Mingle With The Wind, Audibly; Even The Sea-Birds On The Cliffs Cower, While The Sounds As Of A Trump Are Heard, 10 Prophetical And Sad. Let Us Retire, For Sagittarius Rules The Wayward Year.[166] Pensive, They Both Retired Into The Cave. The Eyes Of John Were Heavy, And Ere Long He Sank Into Deep Slumber, Like A Child, Hushed By The Ocean Sounds; And Now Arose Visions More Dark And Terrible. He Saw The Lamb Of God Open The Book. Hark! Hark! The Thunder And The Tempest Roll! John Saw Four Cherubims, And They Said, Come And See! 20 He Looked, And, Behold! On A White Horse Sat One Who Had A Bow, And He There Was Crowned; And With His Bow, And Crowned, He Went Forth, "Conquering And To Conquer." Hark! A Moan Comes Up From All The Earth! The Second Seal Is Opened, And The Second Cherubim 27 Cries, Come And See! Behold Another Horse, And It Is Red;[167] And He Who Sits Thereon Is Like A Warrior, Waving In His Hand The Sword Of Slaughter; So He Goeth Forth To Kill And To Destroy, And "To Take Peace From All The Earth." Listen! For The Third Seal Is Opening Now, And The Third Cherubim Cries, Come And See! Then Said A Voice To John, What Dost Thou See? John. Lo! A Black Horse Appears - Its Rider Has A Balance In His Hand. Ride On - Ride On! Justice And Equity Visit The Earth, With Plenty.[168] 40 The Fourth Seal Is Opened Now, And The Fourth Cherubim Cries, Come And See! Voice. What Seest Thou? John. A Pale Horse - Voice. And Rider? John. Yes - A Dire Anatomy. As He Rides On, Nations With Terror Shriek - Death! And The Gulf Of Hell Shoots Out Its Flame After The Footfall Of That Ghastly Horse. 50 The Rider Shouts, And Haggard Famine Crawls, With Wan And Wasted Visage, From Her Cave; And Pestilence, Speeding Unseen In Air, Breathes, And Ten Thousand Perish, And Wild Beasts Howl In The City Of The Dead, And Feed Upon The Black And Countless Carcases.[169] Low Thunders Rolled, And Sounds Of Woe Were Heard, When The Fifth Seal Was Opened; And John Saw A Burning Altar, And Beneath It, Souls Of Those Who Had Been Slain - The Witnesses, 60 Confessing Christ In Torments, And They Cried, How Long, O Lord, Holy, And Just, And True, Dost Thou Not Judge - Judge And Avenge Our Cause! And Robes Of White Were Given To Each Of Them, And A Voice Said, Oh! Rest Ye Yet A While, Rest Ye Till Persecution'S Cup Be Drained; The Judgment Leave To Him Who Sits In Heaven. The Thunders Louder Rolled, As The Sixth Seal Was Opened. Ah! The Sun Is Black Above As Sackcloth, And The Round Moon Red As Blood; 70 Earth Rocks From East To West; The Stars Are Fallen, And Falling, As The Fig-Tree Casts Its Figs, When Shaken By The Mighty Hurricane. Heaven Is Departing, Like A Scroll; The Kings, And The Chief Captains, And The Mighty Men, Bondmen And Free, Have Hid Them In The Caves, And Mountains, And Dark Places Of The Earth, And To The Mountains And The Rocks They Cry, Fall On Us! Hide Us - Hide Us From The Face Of The Incensed Lamb, For His Great Day 80 Of Wrath Is Come, And Who On Earth May Stand![170] And After This, John Saw Four Angels Stand 82 On The Four Corners Of The Earth; They Held The Rushing Winds, That Not A Wind Should Blow Tumultuous On The Earth, Or On The Sea, Whilst They Stood Silent; Then With Radiant Wings, Bright As The Sun Ascending From The East, Another Glorious Angel Came, Who Bore Thy Seal, O Living God; And A Loud Voice To The Four Angels Cried, Hurt Not The Earth 90 Or Seas, Till On Their Foreheads We Have Sealed The Servants Of Our God. And They Were Sealed Of All The Tribes Of Israel. After This, A Multitude Which No Man On The Earth Could Number, Of All Nations And All Tongues, Clothed In White Robes, And Bearing In Their Hands Palms, As Triumphant, Stood Before The Throne Of Glory, And Before The Lamb Of God, And Cried Aloud, Salvation To Our God, Which Sitteth On The Throne, And To The Lamb.[171] 100 And All The Angels Stood About The Throne, The Elders, And The Mighty Cherubims, And On Their Faces Fell, Before The Throne, And Worshipped God, And Cried Aloud, Amen: Blessing And Glory, Wisdom, Honour, Power, Be To Our God, For Ever And For Ever! Then Seemed That One Among The Elders Spake To John, And Said, What Are These Multitudes Who Bear Triumphant Palms, All Clothed In White? John Answered, Sir, Thou Knowest. He Replied, 110 These Are Victorious Saints, Who Have Come Out From The Great Tribulation, And Have Washed Their Bloody Garments, And Have Made Them White - White Through His Blood Who Died Upon The Cross; Therefore They Stand Before The Throne Of God, 115 And In His Temple Serve Him Day And Night, And He That Sitteth On The Throne Shall Dwell Among Them. They Shall Hunger Now No More, Nor Thirst; The Sun Shall Cheer Them, But Not Burn; The Lamb Shall Feed Them, And Shall Lead Them Forth 120 To Pleasant Pastures, And To Fountains Bright, And From Their Eyelids Wipe Away All Tears For Ever. There Was Silence In The Heavens, When The Seventh Seal Was Opened, And John Saw Seven Angels Standing By The Throne Of God, Having Seven Trumpets; And An Angel Came, Who, Hovering, With A Golden Censer, Stood Before An Altar, And The Smoke Went Up, Of Incense, From The Altar. These Are Prayers 130 Of All The Saints On Earth - Prayers Which Ascend, Like Incense, From The Censer In The Hand Of That Bright Angel, To The Throne Of God. Ah! He Has Cast His Censer To The Earth; And Suddenly The Earthquake And The Storm Awoke, And Through The Darkness, Rolled And Flashed Deep Thunders And The Lightning; And, Behold! The Seven Angels Lift Their Trumpets High, Lift, And Prepare To Sound. And Now The First Sounds - And There Follows Instant Hail, And Fire 140 Mingled With Blood, Which On The Earth Was Cast; So That The Trees Stood Bare And Desolate, And The Green Grass Was Withered And Burnt Up. The Second Angel Sounded, And, Behold! A Burning Mountain Cast Into The Sea. The Third Part Of All Creatures In The Sea Died, A Third Part Of All The Ships That Sailed Upon The Sea Was Smitten And Destroyed. And The Third Angel Sounded; And There Fell 149 A Star From Heaven. It Fell On The Third Part Of Rivers, And The Fountains Of The Deep; And Swollen And Livid Carcases Were Left, Weltering, Beside The Dark, Blood-Heaving Sea. And The Fourth Angel Sounded; And The Sun For The Third Part Was Smitten, And The Moon For The Third Part Was Darkened; And John Saw And Heard An Angel Flying In Mid Heaven, And Crying With A Mighty Voice, Woe, Woe, Woe To The Earth, By Reason Of The Voice Of The Three Trumpets That Are Yet To Sound! 160 And The Fifth Trumpet Sounded; And John Saw A Star Fall From The Heavens To The Earth; And To The Angel Of The Star Was Given The Key That Shuts The Nethermost Abyss Upon The Groans Of Those That Groan Therein. The Pit Is Opened, And The Volumed Smoke, Shooting Red Flames, As From A Furnace, Rolls, And Out Of It There Issued Crawling Things,[172] Like Scorpions; But They Had No Power To Hurt The Green Grass Of The Earth, But Those Alone 170 Who On Their Foreheads Had No Seal Of Heaven: These Shall Seek Death, But Find Him Not, For Death Shall Fly From Them, When They Most Pray To Die. Like Horses Trained For Battle, A Dire Troop Comes Sounding; On Their Heads Are Crowns, Like Gold; Faces Are Theirs, Like Men; And They Have Hair As Women, And Teeth White And Terrible As Lions; And Their Iron Breastplates Shake, With Hurtling Noise; The Sounding Of Their Wings Is As The Chariots And The Steeds Of War, 180 Rushing To The Thick War. Who Is Their King? 181 Apollyon, Angel Of The Deep Abyss. One Woe Is Past, Yet Two More Woes Remain; For The Sixth Angel Sounded, And John Heard A Voice Like Thunders: The Four Angels Loose, In The Great River Of Euphrates Bound. And The Four Giant Angels Are Unbound, And They Go Forth To Slaughter. And John Saw The Horses In The Vision, And He Saw Those Who Sat On Them, With Breastplates Of Fire, 190 Of Jacinth, And Of Sulphur; And The Heads Of The Gaunt Horses Were As Lions' Heads, And From Their Mouths Issued Red Fire And Smoke. But Men Repented Not, Nor Turned Away From Their Dark Idols, Or Their Sorceries, From Worshipping Their Gods Of Gold, Or Stone, Or Brass, Or Silver! Hush! The Sound Of Wings! Another Mighty Angel Comes From Heaven, And Lights On Earth, Clothed In A Radiant Cloud. There Is A Rainbow On His Head; His Face 200 Is As The Orient Sun; His Feet Appear Pillars Of Fire; In His Right Hand A Book. He Sets His Right Foot On The Seas, His Left Upon The Earth, And Cries, With A Loud Voice, Till The World Shrinks: And When He Thus Has Cried, Seven Thunders Answer, Uttering To Heaven Their Voices. Then The Angel Said To John, Art Thou About To Write? Seal Up The Things Which The Seven Thunders Uttered: Write Them Not. 210 The Angel Which John Saw Stand On The Seas, And On The Earth, Raised His Right Hand To Heaven, And Swore By Him Which Liveth, Who Shall Live For Ever And For Ever - Swore By Him Who Made The Heaven, The Earth, And All Therein, 215 That Time Shall Be No More: The Mystery Of God Shall Be Concluded In The Days Of This Last Angel'S Voice. That Awful Voice John Heard Entranced; And The Voice Said To Him, Take From The Angel'S Hand, - The Hand Of Him 220 Who Standeth On The Seas And On The Earth, - That Book Thou Markest Open In His Hand. That Book, The Rapt Apostle Cried, That Book! The Angel Mildly Answered, Let Thy Heart Feed On It; Sweet And Bitter It Shall Be, And Thou Shalt Prophesy Of Things To Come, Of Dark Things Yet To Be Upon The Earth. The Seventh Angel Lifted High His Trump, And Sounded; When From Heaven A Voice Was Heard - The Kingdoms Of This World They Are Become 230 The Kingdoms Of Our Lord And Of His Christ: For Ever And For Ever, He Shall Reign, For Ever And For Ever. Now The Ark Of God Appeared; And Round About The Ark There Was A Rainbow Stealing Through The Rain, The Ark Of The New Covenant: And, Lo! A Shining Company Stood With The Lamb Upon Mount Zion, And A Song Was Heard Of Harpers, Harping A New Song - The Song 240 Of Life And Immortality. And John Then Heard A Voice - A Voice From Heaven, Which Said, Write, Write, From Henceforth Blessed Are The Dead Which In The Lord Shall Die, For They Shall Rest From All Their Labours! Blessed Are The Dead! The Shadows Are Departed; Horse And Trump Are Seen And Heard No More; The Trumpet'S Clang Dies Far Away: The Apostle Turned And Prayed, With Eyes Upraised; And Now, For Pealing Trumps, 249 Heard In The Wind The Lessening Sound Of Harps, Still Lessening, And Still Lessening, Till The Cave Was Silent; And The Stirring Winds Without Alone Were Heard, Like Sweet, Sad Melodies, Remembered In Old Times; Whilst He Who Stood Beside Him Watched; And After, As The Day Slowly Declined, They Two Conversing Sat, Conversing Of God'S Judgment - Of The Voice Which Said To Man The Sinner, Dust Thou Art, And Unto Dust Thou Shalt Return - Of Death, And Immortality Through Christ Restored; 260 So They Deceived The Time, Till John, Oppressed With Sights And Sounds So Terrible, Lay Down, And Sank To Sleep, Not To Awake Till Dawn. Part Fourth. Morning - Roman Commander - Vision - Babylon - New Jerusalem - Evening - Night Scene - Stars - Temptation - Dream. John Woke From Slumber, When The Early Trump Rang From The Roman Camp Below, At Break Of The Gray Dawn; And When The Sun Arose, After His Orisons To Heaven, He Sat On The Rude Stone Before His Cave, And Marked His Staff And Form Shadowed Against The Rock, Watching The Fitful Gleams That, Here And There, Chequered The Pale 'Gean, Far Away; While He, Who Never Left His Side, Appeared Now More Majestic, As The Beams Of Day 10 Shone On His Waving Tresses, When He Raised 11 His Look To Heaven, And Stood Sublime In Light. But See, With Vitis[173] Of Command, And Plume And Crest, In Momentary Sunshine Bright, The Pr'Fect Of The Roman Guard Approach, Hail, Father, Hail! He Cried. And Hail To Thee, The Old Man Answered, Mildly. Art Thou Come With Tidings From The Mistress Of The World? Roman Commander. The World'S Great Sun Is Set - C'Sar Is Dead! 20 John. C'Sar! Ah! In My Dream Did I Not See His Shadow Stern And Sad; The Purple Robe Dropping With Blood! Roman Commander. Why, Was He Not A God? - So He Proclaimed Himself - A God On Earth! Giving Command That Altars To His Name Should Blaze, As To Great Jupiter! Old Man, Art Thou Not Prisoner For Gainsaying This?[174] But, Father, If A Soldier Might Pronounce, With All Respect To Thy Gray Hairs, I Deem 30 The Sole, Imperial Master Of The World Might Worthier Claim That Title, Than A Man Mocked, Scourged - Ay, Scourged! - And Crucified With Thieves! Rose And Ascended Into Heaven! Replied The Meek Old Man - A Hectic On His Cheek - Rose, And Ascended Into Heaven, To Sit 36 At The Right Hand Of God, From Thence To Come, Judge Of The Quick And Dead! Proud Soldier, Hear - Hear How A Prisoner For Jesus Christ Can Answer Thee! When King Agrippa Sat Upon His Throne, In Oriental State, Surrounded By The Roman Soldiery, With Axe And Fasces Of Imperial Sway, Fair Berenice Seated On His Right, And On His Left Festus The Governor, Paul, A Poor Prisoner Of Jesus Christ, Before Him Stood, In Chains; And As He Spoke Of "Resurrection," And The World To Come, He Cried, King Of The Jews, Dost Thou Believe 50 The Prophets! Yes! I Know Thou Dost Believe. The King, With Faltering Voice, Tremblingly Cried, Paul, Paul, Thou Dost Persuade Even Me, Almost - To Be A Christian! Paul, With Lifted Hand And Steadfast Look, Thus Answered Him, Almost! Oh! Would That The Whole World Were Not "Almost," But "Altogether" Such As I Am Now, Except These Bonds. Soldier, I Say The Same. But Hie Thee To Thy Eagle; I Am Here, 60 A Poor Old Man, Like Paul, A Prisoner, And Thou, An Officer Of Mighty Rome; Yet Would I Pray To God, That Thou May'St Be, Oh! Not "Almost," But "Altogether," Such As I Am Now, Except These Few Gray Hairs, Old Age, And Many Sorrows; Yet Even Here My Soul Hath Been Sustained By Him Who Said, Lo! I Am With You Alway, And I Know He Still Is With Me. I Have Heard His Voice, And Seen His Look Of Glory And Of Love 70 Turned On Me, In This Solitude; And He - He Who Did Shudder With Me At The Voice Of Thy Bold Blasphemy, Here Lately Came With Words Of Comfort, And These Aged Eyes Have Seen The Things That Must Hereafter Be; Yet Know, Stern Soldier, If My Days Were Passed Lonely As Hopeless, I Would Not Exchange These Few Gray Hairs For Thy Green Laurel Crown - This Solitude, For Living C'Sar'S Throne, Or C'Sar'S Subject World! 80 The Soldier Turned Disdainful, And His Crest Shook In The Wind; Then, Lifting High His Ensign Of Command, He Bade The Trumpet Sound The Second Watch. John Knelt, And Prayed, Thy Kingdom Come, O Lord! Then He Who Stood Beside Him, Spoke Unmoved: Rome - Rome Shall Be No More! At Dead Of Night, Hark! The Barbarian Trump; Jerusalem Shall Be Avenged; And Those Of Distant Days, Pondering The Fate Of Empires, There Shall Come 90 To Muse Upon The Fragments Of Her Might, Her Ancient Glory Passed As Morning Clouds, And Tremble For The Judgments Of The Lord In All The World! Now To The Cave Retire, For Other Visions Of The Things To Come, And Other Fearful Shadows, Must Thou See. John Sat, And Held His Hands Upon His Brow: The Earth Seems To Retire, And All The Sounds Of Tumult And Of Woe At Once To Cease. 100 Then John Was In The Spirit, And He Saw Seven Angels, And, Beneath, A Sea Of Glass Mingled With Fire; And On The Sea Of Glass Those Who Had Gained, On Earth, The Victory 104 Over The Beast, All Standing On The Sea Of Glass, And In Their Hands The Harps Of God, And Thus They Sung, Oh! Great And Marvellous Art Thou, Almighty God, And Just And True Are All Thy Ways, Thou King Of Saints! Amen. Now From The Temple A Loud Voice Was Heard, 110 Which Said To The Seven Angels, Go Your Ways, Pour Out The Vials Of The Wrath Of God Upon The Earth.[175] Then On The Men Which Bore The Mark Upon Their Foreheads Of The Beast, Or Fell Down To His Image, Noisome Sores And Plague-Spots Fell. The Second Angel Poured His Vial On The Sea, And It Became The Blood Of A Dead Man; And Every Thing Which Had The Breath Of Life Died In The Sea. 120 And The Third Angel Poured His Vial Out Upon The Rivers, And Fresh Fountains Clear, And They Became Red Blood. And Then John Heard, In Trance, The Angels Of The Waters Say, Righteous Art Thou, O Lord! And Righteously, O Thou Which Art, And Was, And Which Shall Be, Thus Hast Thou Judged, For They Have Shed The Blood Of Prophets And Of Saints! A Voice Replied, From Out The Altar, Even So, O Lord! Almighty God, Thy Judgments Are Most True! 130 And The Fourth Angel Poured His Vial Out Upon The Sun, And Power Was Given To Him To Scorch Men With The Fire, And They Blasphemed The Name Of God, And Still Repented Not, Looking With Gnashing Teeth Upon The Sun. And The Fifth Angel Poured His Vial Out Upon The Kingdom Of The Beast, And, Lo! 137 The Kingdom Of The Beast At Once Was Dark: But Men Repented Not - Even While They Gnawed Their Tongues For Pain, Blaspheming God In Heaven. And The Sixth Angel Poured His Vial Out Where The Great River Of Euphrates Rolls, And It Was Quick Dried Up, And So Became A Highway For The Armies Of The East, And For The Kings Of Earth, And The Whole World, Gathering To Battle, On The Dreadful Day Of The Incensed Lord, Into A Place Called "Armageddon," In The Hebrew Tongue. And The Seventh Angel Poured His Vial Out Into The Air, And A Loud Voice Was Heard 150 Out Of The Temple'S Inmost Shrine, Which Cried, All Is Fulfilled! At Once An Earthquake Shook The Ground, And Lightnings, Red And Terrible, Flashed, And The Thunders Rolled Along The Sky, And Strange And Fearful Voices In The Air Were Heard, So Dreadful Was That Storm. Aghast, The Nations Fell; And The Great Babylon Came In Remembrance Before God, To Pour On Her The Fierceness Of His Wakened Wrath. And Now John Saw Another Angel Fly 160 In Clouds, And Coming Down With Power From Heaven Unto The Earth; And All The Earth Beneath Was Lighted With His Glory; And He Cried, With The Loud Voice Of Judgment, Babylon The Great Is Fallen! And Then Another Voice Answered, Come Out Of Her! Hath She Not Said, I Sit A Queen, Mighty As Ashtoreth? The Kings Of Earth Shall Tremble When They See The Smoke Of Her Great Torment; They Shall Stand Afar Off From Her Burning, And Shall Cry, 170 That Mighty City, Babylon, Alas! 171 In One Hour Is Her Judgment Come! The Voice Of Harpers And Of Trumpeters No More Shall In Her Streets Be Heard: The Blood Of Saints, Of Prophets, And Of Martyrs, Is Avenged! The Cries Are Heard, The Smoke Is Seen, No More. And After This, John Lifted Up His Eyes, And Heard The Voice Of Mighty Companies, Which Sang And Shouted, Alleluia! Reign For Ever, Lord Of Lords And King Of Kings! 180 Salvation, Honour, Glory, Power, And Praise, Be Unto Thee, O Lord! For Thou Hast Judged With Righteousness! They, With Acclaiming Voice, Still Sang And Shouted, Alleluia - Reign For Ever, Lord Of Lords And King Of Kings! Heard Through The Empyrean, The Great Voice Again Went Up, Whilst All The Courts Of Heaven Rang, Alleluia! Glory Be To Thee, Glory And Power, Lord God Omnipotent![176] Then The Heaven Opened, And, Behold! A Horse 190 As White As Snow, And He Who Sat Thereon Was Called "True And Faithful;" On His Head Were Crowns On Crowns, And Underneath A Name Which No Man Knew, Save He Who Bore That Name. His Vesture Was A Robe Of Blood, And They Who Followed Him Proclaimed, The Word Of God! And All The Heavenly Armies Followed Him On Horses White Like His; And On His Robe Was Written - King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords. The Pomp Is Passed, And Now John Raised His Eyes, And Saw An Angel Standing In The Sun. 201 The Angel In His Watch Looked Down To Earth, And All The Armies Of The Earth Came Forth To War With The Bright Chivalry Of Heaven, 204 And Him Who Sat On The White Horse! And, Lo! Before The Mighty Cherubims Advanced Michael, The Great Archangel, While A Shout Rang, That The Sun In Heaven Might Seem To Stand Still At A Sound So Terrible. Opposed To The Great Armies Of The Living God, 210 Frown The Satanic Host, Far As The Eye Can Reach; And Horses Black As Night, And Spectre Armies, Led, In Front, By Death, Appear, Receding Into Farther Depths Of Blackness; While, Anon, A Dragon, Scaled, Moves Weltering Onward. Michael, From The Ranks Of Cherubim Advancing, Lifts On High His Mace, And Full On The Scaled Dragon'S Crest Smites. At His Feet The Dragon Lay, And, Lo! The Sable Phantom-Horsemen At The Sight 220 Are Vanished. Raise The Victor-Song To Him Who Rides On The White Horse, And To His God In Heaven, For The Great Dragon Is Cast Down Into The Bottomless And Burning Lake! Another Angel, With White Waving Plume, Descends; An Iron Chain Is In His Hand, And The Dark Key Of Destiny, Which Shuts The Bottomless Abyss, From Whence The Smoke Ascends - Ascends, But Not A Groan Is Heard. The Ancient Dragon Is Cast Down, And Bound - 230 Bound For A Thousand Years, In Chains, And Thrown, Howling, Into That Nethermost Abyss; While Mercy, Equity, And Peace, And Truth, Like Angel Forms, Visit The Earth, And Move, Radiant As Light, Among The Sons Of Men, And Only Sounds Are Heard Of Harmonies, Such As In Heaven Are Sung About The Throne, O'Er Which, In Dewy Light, The Rainbow Bends. 238 The Trump Of Bannered War, The Sighs And Groans Of Miserable Slaves, That Rise From Earth, In One Deep Murmur, To High Heaven, Are Ceased; For Love And Mercy Walk Among Mankind, And So Shall Walk, Till The Last Trump Shall Sound. Now A New Heaven And New Earth Appear; And, Coming Down From Heaven, Even As A Bride Adorned To Meet Her Husband, John Beheld The City Of The New Jerusalem, Glittering Beyond The Clouds; And Then He Heard A Voice From A Bright Cloud, The Lord Shall Come And Dwell With Men, And He Shall Be Their God; 250 And God Shall Wipe From Every Eye The Tear, And Death Shall Be No More! John Spread His Hands, And Cried, With Eyes Upraised To Heaven, Oh! Stay, Visions Of Bliss! I Am Bowed Down With Age, Forlorn On Earth, And I Have Tarried Long Alone And Sad. Oh! Come, Lord Jesus Christ! A Voice Replied, Thou Shalt Be Where He Is! Hark! 'Twas The Billow Beating On The Rocks Of Melancholy Patmos, And John Wept, 260 As, Slowly Fading, Like A Summer Dream, He Saw The Towers, And Gates, And Palaces, Of New Jerusalem Fade In The Clouds Of Eve, Which Shot Its Gleaming Pinnacles Aloft In The Pale Sky, And Flushed The Track Of The Sun'S Westering Orb With Crimson Light. As The Sun Sunk, The Sound Of Trump And Horn Shrilled, And The Old Man, Starting From His Trance, Beheld Below The Cave The Roman Troop, Stationed To Guard The Island Criminals, 270 Wind Slow, In Martial File, With Banners Spread, 271 Returning To Their Tents. Ah! Where Are Now The Temples Of The New Jerusalem, Glittering Amid The Clouds Of Parting Day? Gone, Like The Rack; And Patmos' Dreary Isle And Melancholy Caves Return The Sound Of Marching Men, And The Hoarse Roman Trump. The Apostle To The Entrance Of His Cave, The Last Remaining Light On His Gray Hairs, 280 Comes Slowly Forth, And Rests Upon His Staff, When The Rock-Pigeon, At The Trump Disturbed, Flew To His Withered Hand. With Plumed Crest Upon His Brazen Helmet, Holding High The Ensign Of Command, An Eagle Borne Before Him, On A Spear, The Pr'Fect Leads His Legionary Band; And As Aloft The Banners Wave, And Shields And Corslets Throw Back A Pale Glimmer, Mark A Mournful Train Of Fettered Men Move Sullenly, With Whom, 290 Thoughtful, And With His Hands Upon His Breast, His Eyes, At Times, Uplifted To The Heavens, One, As A Soldier Worn With Toil, But Marked With A Stern Sadness On His Manly Brow, Comes Silently, A Tear On His Dark Cheek. Near Him, A Youth, Wan And Emaciate, Leans On A Female, By His Side, In Bloom Of Youthful Beauty; While, At Intervals, Whene'Er The Trumpet Ceased To Ring, Is Heard The Breath Of Muttering, And The Clank Of Chains. 300 John Sighed, And, Turning To The Stranger, Said (For Both Were At The Entrance Of The Cave): Even To This Desert Spot In The Lone Waves, War, And The Ensigns And The Sounds Of War, 304 Have Reached. His Guest Illustrious, With A Smile, Answered: Yet This Is The Mere Mimickry Of That Appalling Spectacle, That Fills The World'S Wide Scene With Havoc And With Blood; The Murmur Of Whose Mighty Coil Goes Up 310 Still To The Ear Of Heaven. So Man, The Worm, Preys On His Fellow-Worm. Turn From The Earth, As Gradual Evening Shades The Sinking Scene, And Think Upon Its Sins And Strife No More. Come, Let Us, On The Stone, Before The Cave, For All Above Is Still And Glorious, Sit Down, And Watch The Stars As They Steal Out, One After One, And Garnish The Pale Cope Of Heaven. How Bright The Troops Of Hesper Shine, Above The Shadow Of Yon Farther Rock, 320 Whose Western Side Is Lustrous; For The Moon, Ascending In Her Car Of Glory, Casts A Meditative And A Solemn Light From Cape To Cape! Look! There Is Helice,[177] Watched By The Grecian Traders Of The Deep - How Clear She Shines To-Night Above The Sea! High In The Zenith, Here And There, Apart, Some Solitary Stars, Now Scarce Discerned, Seem To Retire Into The Farthest Space, As If To Shun The Prouder Planet'S Gaze, 330 Each In His Watch, With Never-Blenching Eye, Steadfast. Nor Marvel, Then The Stranger Said, When All The Silent Host Of The Blue Sky Appear So Beautiful, Idolatry Should Deem Them Gods, And To The Sun And Moon, Bel And Astarte, Pay The Worship Due 136 To The Invisible, Almighty Lord, Who Rules In Heaven And Earth. Is There A God? Yes! Nature Cries Aloud, There Is A God, Visible In His Works, And Infinite In Power! There Is A God, And He Is Just! There Is A God, And He Is Merciful! Yet Might We Rather Say, T