AND now, behold! as at the approach of morning, | |
Through the gross vapors, Mars grows fiery red | |
Down in the west upon the ocean floor, | |
Appeared to me,may I again behold it! | |
A light along the sea, so swiftly coming, | 5 |
Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled. | |
And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little | |
Mine eyes, that I might question my conductor, | |
Again I saw it brighter grown and larger. | |
Thereafter, on all sides of it, appeared | 10 |
I knew not what of white, and underneath, | |
Little by little, there came forth another. | |
My master yet had uttered not a word, | |
While the first whiteness into wings unfolded; | |
But, when he clearly recognized the pilot, | 15 |
He cried aloud: Quick, quick, and bow the knee! | |
Behold the Angel of God! fold up thy hands! | |
Henceforward shalt thou see such officers! | |
See, how he scorns all human arguments, | |
So that no oar he wants, nor other sail | 20 |
Than his own wings, between so distant shores! | |
See, how he holds them, pointed straight to heaven, | |
Fanning the air with the eternal pinions, | |
That do not moult themselves like mortal hair! | |
And then, as nearer and more near us came | 25 |
The Bird of Heaven, more glorious he appeared, | |
So that the eye could not sustain his presence, | |
But down I cast it; and he came to shore | |
With a small vessel, gliding swift and light, | |
So that the water swallowed naught thereof. | 30 |
Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot! | |
Beatitude seemed written in his face! | |
And more than a hundred spirits sat within. | |
In exitu Israel de Ægypto! | |
Thus sang they all together in one voice, | 35 |
With whatso in that Psalm is after written. | |
Then made he sign of holy rood upon them, | |
Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore, | |
And he departed swiftly as he came. | |
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