22 REDEMPTION.
Around the chosen seed, prime guardians
Of that precious germ, new made earth, from which
The new created Eve perfect should rise,
Long dormant kept, waiting the time decreed.
So camp the angels of the Lord around
The dwellings of the just, preserve from harm,
Their sorrows soothe, treasure their tears, their pray'rs,
As incense, to the mercy seat convey.
So Ab'ram, Lot, and valiant Gedeon, proved ;
Them, all the patriarchs knew, and often
In sweet converse held ; so, at Eliseus' pray'r,
In Dothan, all the mountain gleam'd, frequent
And full, with myriads of angelic bands.
And so the patriarchs of the newer law,
Peter and Paul, and John, these messengers,
Oft entertain'd ; but chief the Son of God,
After the flight of Satan, gracious deign'd
Their heav'nly ministrations to receive.
Now Joachim, more cheerfully disposed,
With quicken'd step hasten'd to greet his spouse,
And in her ear relate the joyful hopes,
Which new inspire his breast, to life restored.
Meanwhile apart, unseen by mortal sense,
Obeisance reverent, as is their wont,
Complaisantly th' archangels interchanged,
When, Abdiel made as he would farther go.
To whom, quick turning, Joachim thus said :
"Leave us not so, young man, tarry awhile; Long journey now o'ergone, sore needs repose ; Stay and partake with us such fare as we May have, if thy acceptance worthy deem."
Seeming, the angel acquiesced ; he turn'd,
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