Speed the arrow worthy
Of a pure ascension.

From the low earth round you,
Reach the heights above you;
From the stripes that wound you,
Seek the loves that love you!
God's divinest burneth plain
Through the crystal diaphane
Of our loves that love you.

First Voice. Gabriel, O Gabriel!

Second Voice. What wouldst thou with me?

First Voice. Is it true, O thou Gabriel, that the

crown

Of sorrow which I claimed, another claims?

That He claims THAT too?

Second Voice.

Lost one, it is true.

First Voice. That HE will be an exile from His

Heaven,

To lead those exiles homeward?

Second Voice.

It is true.

First Voice. That He will be an exile by His will,

As I by mine election!

Second Voice.

It is true.

First Voice. That I shall stand sole exile finally,Made desolate for fruition?

Aright true that mine orient star will give

Her name of 'Bright and Morning-Star' to HIM,

And take the fairness of His virtue back,

To cover loss and sadness?

Second Voice.

It is true.

First Voice. Untrue, UNtrue! O morning-star! O MINE!

Who sittest secret in a veil of light,

Far up the starry spaces, say,-Untrue!
Speak but so loud as doth a wasted moon
To Tyrrhene waters! I am Lucifer—

[A pause. Silence in the stars.

All things grow sadder to me, one by one.

Chorus. Exiled Human creatures,

Let your hope grow larger!
Larger grows the vision

Of the new delight.

From this chain of Nature's,

God is the Discharger;

And the Actual's prison
Opens to your sight.

Semichorus.

Calm the stars and golden,

In a light exceeding :
What their rays have measured,
Let your hearts fulfil!
These are stars beholden
By your eyes in Eden;
Yet, across the desert,
See them shining still.

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.

THE ROMAUNT OF THE PAGE.

The trustiest, loving'st, and the gentlest boy,

That ever master had.

BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.

A KNIGHT of gallant deeds,
And a young page at his side
From the holy war in Palestine,
Did slow and thoughtful ride,—

As each were a palmer, and told for beads,
The dews of the eventide.

“O young page,” said the knight,

66 A noble page art thou! Thou fearest not to steep in blood

The curls upon thy brow;

And once in the tent, and twice in the fight, Didst ward me a mortal blow-❞

"O brave knight," said the page,
"Or ere we hither came,

We talked in tent, we talked in field,
Of the bloody battle-game :

But here, below this greenwood bough,
I cannot speak the same.

"Our troop is far behind,

The woodland calm is new;

Our steeds, with slow grass-muffled hoofs,
Tread deep the shadows through:
And in my mind, some blessing kind
Is dropping with the dew.

"The woodland calm is pureI cannot choose but have

A thought, from these, o' the beechen-trees
Which, in our England, wave;

And of the little finches fine,
Which sang there, while in Palestine
The warrior-hilt we drave.

"Methinks, a moment gone,

I heard my mother pray!

I heard, sir knight, the prayer for me

Wherein she passed away;

And I know the Heavens are leaning down
To hear what I shall say."

The page spake calm and high
As of no mean degree;
Perhaps he felt in nature's broad

Full heart, his own was free!

And the knight looked up to his lifted eye,
Then answered smilingly:-

"Sir Page, I pray your grace!

Certes, I meant not so