Page:Joan of Arc - Southey (1796).djvu/30

The soul expanding prayer: his eyes would beam 215
Seraphic rapture, as with eloquent tongue
He told the works of Heaven to thankless man.
How from the womb of darkness nature rose
Refulgent: at the Godhead's high command
How matter teem'd with life: the Earth put forth 220
Her various stores: the groves of Paradise
Gave their mild echoes to the choral song
Of new-born beings: and the last best work
Form'd in God's image, reared the lordly face
To Heaven. But when Bizardo told how man 225
Fell from perfection, from angelic state,
Plung'd deep in sin, and pluck'd the fruit of woe,
And bow'd the knee to fiends, and mock'd at God,
'Till Christ expiring on the sacred cross
Pour'd forth the atoning life; the tears ran down 230
His aged cheeks with woe-mixt gratitude.

"Forgive the prolix tale! Oh I could dwell
For ever thus; for weeks, and months, and years,

"Roll'd