REDEMPTION. 213
On th' eastern border of Esdrela's plain,
Mount Thabor lifts its odoriferous head;
Renown'd before, but now immortal made,
Since, on its flowery heights, the Saviour deigns,
To unfold the crystal gates of his abode,
And with celestial legions throng its top.
Brighter than those of old, a num'rous host,
Which Debbora and Barac thither led,
By mandate of the Lord, till Sisera came,
With banner' d hosts, in panoply of war,
When Israel, victor crown'd, resplendent stood.
Greater than those, outnumber'd and outshone,
The radiant hosts emblaze the cresset air,
And closely gird the sacred mountain round.
So, once, the heav'nly hosts impearl'd the walls
Of paradise, ignescent which, with light
Sequaceous glow'd, when primal innocence
Innate, the prime of human kind adorn'd.
Though less resplendent that, than this beseem'd,
As planets shine less than the noonday sun.
Apart from others, Christ, the favour'd three,
Peter the Chief, and James and John beloved,
Led from the vale up Thabor's fertile top,
And 'fore them heav'nly bright, transfigured stood,
Whilst Moses and Elias with him talk'd,
Of what should him at Solyma befall.
His face was changed to lustrous as the sun,
As, glorified, his form translucent shone,
With spotless sheen encircled, where he stood
Raised from the ground; though all its brilliance forth
He put not, in mid fulgence mild withheld.
So Moses saw it, talk'd with God, and lived,
18*
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