270 CONSOLATIONS OF SOLITUDE
The skies with sphery music rang, And all the stars together sang.
But soon the strains more softly flow,
And in rich cadence close. When Heaven's high priest, in robes of snow,
Upon his feet uprose ; The hosts closed round him like a cloud, While thus he raised his voice aloud : —
" Wilt thou, O Truth, this maiden take
To be thy wedded wife. And, all renouncing for her sake,
Make glad with her thy life ? " He spoke, and all the heavens grew still : Truth answered solemnly, " I will ! "
" Beauty, wilt thou," the archangel cried,
" Accept this willing youth ? Wilt thou renounce all loves beside.
And cling for aye to Truth, Content his days to adorn and bless ? " And Beauty, blushing, answered, " Yes ! "
Then, with a shout that shook the skies,
Rejoiced the seraph bands ; The two stood mute, with downcast eyes ;
The archangel joined their hands, And blessed them both, and said, " 'Tis done ; Beauty and Truth, henceforth be one ! "
As for what more I saw, if aught.
My senses have forgot ; And oft I ponder in my thought.
If 'twere a dream or not. Yet, when the Beautiful I view, She still seems wedded to the True.
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