English

BOOK II Not yet had bright day with herald b
eams struck the waves of the Ionian main; the
light of dawn shimmered on the waters and the
straying brilliance flickered over the deep blue
sea. And now bold Proserpine, forgetful of her
mother's jealous care and tempted by the wiles of
Venus, seeks the streamfed vale. Such was the
Fates' decree. Thrice did the doors sound a
warning note as the hinges turned; thrice did
prophetic Aetna rumble mournfully with awful
thunders. But her can no portent, no omen

PREFACE

When Orpheus sought repose and, lulling his song to sleep, had long laid aside his neglected task, the Nymphs complained that their joy had been reft from them and the sad rivers mourned the loss of his tuneful lays. Nature's savagery returned and the heifer in terror of the lion looked in vain for help from the now voiceless lyre. The rugged mountains lamented his silence and the woods that had so often followed his Thracian lute.

BOOK I

BOOK I

PREFACE

BOOK THE SECOND .

MEANTIME, Northumbria's heralds, in the hall
Not unregarded wait. The fame, soon spread,
Of pomps and royal presents round them draw
The courtly tribe — not hopeless to partake.
Nor lack they disposition to the cause,
Or enmity to Edwin. Ill they brook
His influence, or his virtues: for the youth
(Whom now protracted sojourn, in the realm
And friendly court of Anglia, had reveal'd
In native colours) wins from every heart

PAUL ACCUSED BEFORE THE ROMAN GOVERNOR OF JUDEA

The judge ascended to the judgment-seat;
Amid a gleam of spears the apostle stood;
Dauntless, he forward came; and look'd around,
And raised his voice, at first, in accents low,
Yet clear; a whisper spread among the throng:
So when the thunder mutters, still the breeze
Is heard, at times, to sigh; but when the peal,
Tremendous, louder rolls, a silence dead
Succeeds each pause, moveless the aspen leaf.
Thus fix'd, and motionless, the listening band

PAUL ACCUSED BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL OF THE AREOPAGUS

Listen , that voice! upon the hill of Mars,
Rolling in bolder thunders than e'er peal'd
From lips that shook the Macedonian throne;
Behold his dauntless outstretch'd arm, his face
Illumed of heaven: he knoweth not the fear
Of man, of principalities, of powers.
The Stoic's moveless frown; the vacant stare
Of Epicurus' herd; the scowl and gnash malign
Of Superstition, stopping both her ears;
The Areopagite tribunal dread,
From whence the doom of Socrates was utter'd;

JESUS APPEARS TO THE DISCIPLES .

The evening of that day which saw the Lord
Rise from the chambers of the dead was come.
His faithful followers assembled sang
A hymn low-breathed, a hymn of sorrow blent
With hope — when in the midst sudden he stood.
The awe-struck circle backward shrink; he looks
Around with a benignant smile of love,
And says, " Peace be unto you:" faith and joy
Spread o'er each face, amazed; as when the moon,
Pavilion'd in dark clouds, mildly comes forth,
Silvering a circlet in the fleecy rack.

THE RESURRECTION .

The setting orb of nighTher level ray
Shed o'er the land, and, on the dewy sward,
The lengthen'd shadows of the triple cross
Were laid far stretch'd, when in the east arose,
Last of the stars, day's harbinger. No sound
Was heard, save of the watching soldier's foot:
Within the rock-barred sepulchre, the gloom
Of deepest midnight brooded o'er the dead,
The holy one; but, lo! a radiance faint
Began to dawn around his sacred brow:
The linen vesture seem'd a snowy wreath

THE DEATH OF JESUS .

" 'T IS finished:" he spake the words, and bow'd
His head, and died. Beholding him far off,
They who had minister'd unto him hope
'Tis his last agony. The Temple's veil
Is rent; revealing the most holy place,
Wherein the cherubims their wings extend,
O'ershadowing the mercy-seat of God
Appall'd, the leaning soldier feels the spear
Shake in his grasp; the planted standard falls
Upon the heaving ground: the sun is dimm'd,
And darkness shrouds the body of the Lord.