A DREAM.
85
And murmurings half suppressed, half uttered!
All eyes were upward turned in wonder and in fear,
But soon, methought, they onward rolled
To the dread High One's bar,
As the tumultuous billows rush murmuring to the shore,
And all distinctions dwindled into naught.
Upward I cast my eyes;
High on an azure throne, begirt with clouds,
Sate the dread Indescribable!
He raised his sceptre, waved it o'er the crowd,
And all was calm and silent as the grave!
He rose; the cherubs flapped their snowy wings!
On came the rushing wind—the throne was moved,
And flew like gliding swan above the crowd!
Sudden it stopped o'er the devoted world!
The Judge moved forward 'mid his sable shroud,
Raised his strong arm with rolling thunders clothed,
Held forth a vial filled with wrathful fire,
Then poured the contents on the waiting globe!
Sudden the chain, which bound it to God's throne,
Snapped with a dire explosion!
On wheeled the desolate—the burning orb
Swift through the heavens!
Down, down it plunged; then shot across the expanse,
Blazing through realms where light had never pierced!
Down, down it plunged, fast wheeling from above,
Shooting forth flames, and sparks, and burning brands,
Trailing from shade to shade
Then bounding, blazing brighter than before,
It plunged extinguished in the chaotic gulf!
All eyes were upward turned in wonder and in fear,
But soon, methought, they onward rolled
To the dread High One's bar,
As the tumultuous billows rush murmuring to the shore,
And all distinctions dwindled into naught.
Upward I cast my eyes;
High on an azure throne, begirt with clouds,
Sate the dread Indescribable!
He raised his sceptre, waved it o'er the crowd,
And all was calm and silent as the grave!
He rose; the cherubs flapped their snowy wings!
On came the rushing wind—the throne was moved,
And flew like gliding swan above the crowd!
Sudden it stopped o'er the devoted world!
The Judge moved forward 'mid his sable shroud,
Raised his strong arm with rolling thunders clothed,
Held forth a vial filled with wrathful fire,
Then poured the contents on the waiting globe!
Sudden the chain, which bound it to God's throne,
Snapped with a dire explosion!
On wheeled the desolate—the burning orb
Swift through the heavens!
Down, down it plunged; then shot across the expanse,
Blazing through realms where light had never pierced!
Down, down it plunged, fast wheeling from above,
Shooting forth flames, and sparks, and burning brands,
Trailing from shade to shade
Then bounding, blazing brighter than before,
It plunged extinguished in the chaotic gulf!
