Ay, a child,--
Who never, praying, wept before:
While, in a mother undefiled,
Prayer goeth on in sleep, as true
And
pauseless
as the pulses do.
Elizabeth Browning
_Second Angel._
As spirits when
They meeken, not to God, but men.
_First Angel._
And she so young, that I who bring
Good dreams for saintly children, might
Mistake that small soft face to-night,
And fetch her such a blessed thing
That at her waking she would weep
For childhood lost anew in sleep.
How hath she sinned?
_Second Angel._
In bartering love;
God's love for man's.
_First Angel._
We may reprove
The world for this, not only her:
Let me approach to breathe away
This dust o' the heart with holy air.
_Second Angel._
Stand off! She sleeps, and did not pray.
_First Angel._
Did none pray for her?
_Second Angel.
_
Ay, a child,--
Who never, praying, wept before:
While, in a mother undefiled,
Prayer goeth on in sleep, as true
And
pauseless
as the pulses do.
_First Angel._
Then I approach.
_Second Angel._
It is not WILLED.
_First Angel._
One word: is she redeemed?
_Second Angel._
No more!
The place is filled. [Angels _vanish_
_Evil Spirit (in a Nun's garb by the bed)._
Forbear that dream--forbear that dream! too near to heaven it leaned.
_Onora (in sleep)._
Nay, leave me this--but only this! 't is but a dream, sweet fiend!
