From where slept their dust entombed
Slowly rose each Shape of stone!
Their souls burst at once the spell;
Each King his past life resumed,
And descended from his throne.
From their hands their sceptres fell;
While with solemn steps they trod
Toward the altar-place of God.
I heard the paved and brazen floor
Clang, as their massive heels tramped o'er;
Pale lightnings round their helmets blazed;
I saw their brows and eyeballs glazed,
As slowly each his vizor raised!
Faces solemn and sublime
As those seers of eldest time,
When they read within the leaves
Of the book of life God weaves;
And while eyes of men were sealed,
Gazed upon Himself revealed.