_
_The place is the outer side of the shut Heavenly Gate.
_The place is the outer side of the shut Heavenly Gate.
Elizabeth Browning
_Chorus. _
Future joy and far light
Working such relations,
Hear us singing gently
_Exiled is not lost! _
God, above the starlight,
God, above the patience,
Shall at last present ye
Guerdons worth the cost.
Patiently enduring,
Painfully surrounded,
Listen how we love you,
Hope the uttermost!
Waiting for that curing
Which exalts the wounded,
Hear us sing above you--
EXILED, BUT NOT LOST!
[_The stars shine on brightly while ADAM and EVE pursue their way into
the far wilderness. There is a sound through the silence, as of the
falling tears of an angel. _
FOOTNOTES:
[B] Adam recognizes in _Aquarius_, the Water-bearer, and _Sagittarius_,
the Archer, distinct types of the man bearing and the man
combating,--the passive and active forms of human labour. I hope that
the preceding zodiacal signs--transferred to the earthly shadow and
representative purpose--of Aries, Taurus, Cancer, Leo, Libra, Scorpio,
Capricornus, and Pisces, are sufficiently obvious to the reader.
[C] Her maternal instinct is excited by Gemini.
THE SERAPHIM
I look for Angels' songs, and hear Him cry.
GILES FLETCHER.
THE SERAPHIM.
PART THE FIRST.
[_It is the time of the Crucifixion; and the Angels of Heaven have
departed towards the Earth, except the two Seraphim, ADOR the Strong
and ZERAH the Bright One.
_
_The place is the outer side of the shut Heavenly Gate. _]
_Ador. _ O Seraph, pause no more!
Beside this gate of heaven we stand alone.
_Zerah. _ Of heaven!
_Ador. _ Our brother hosts are gone--
_Zerah. _ Are gone before.
_Ador. _ And the golden harps the angels bore
To help the songs of their desire,
Still burning from their hands of fire,
Lie without touch or tone
Upon the glass-sea shore.
_Zerah. _ Silent upon the glass-sea shore!
_Ador. _ There the Shadow from the throne
Formless with infinity
Hovers o'er the crystal sea
Awfuller than light derived,
And red with those primeval heats
Whereby all life has lived.
_Zerah.