Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
The Ascent of the Saint
By Benjamin Coleman (1673–1747)’T
Mountains of lum’nous clouds roll’d in the air,
When on a sudden, from the radiant skies,
Superior light flasht in Elisha’s eyes.
The Heav’ns were cleft, and from the imperial throne
A stream of glory, dazzling splendor, shone;
Beams of ten thousand suns shot round about,
The sun and every blazon’d cloud went out;
Bright hosts of angels lin’d the heavenly way,
To guard the saint up to eternal day.
Then down the steep descent a chariot bright,
And steeds of fire, swift as the beams of light.
Wing’d seraphs ready stood, bow’d low to greet
The fav’rite saint, and hand him to his seat.
Enthron’d he sat, transformed with joys his mien,
Calm his gay soul, and, like his face, serene.
His eye and burning wishes to his God,
Forward he bow’d, and on the triumph rode.