THE ECSTASY.
161
Without affright or wonder
I meet clouds charg'd with thunder,
And lightnings, in my way,
Like harmless lambent fires about my temples play.
I meet clouds charg'd with thunder,
And lightnings, in my way,
Like harmless lambent fires about my temples play.
Now into a gentle sea of rolling flame
I'm plung'd, and still mount higher there,
As flames mount up through air:
So perfect, yet so tame,
So great, so pure, so bright a fire,
Was that unfortunate desire,
My faithful breast did cover,
Then, when I was of late a wretched mortal lover.
I'm plung'd, and still mount higher there,
As flames mount up through air:
So perfect, yet so tame,
So great, so pure, so bright a fire,
Was that unfortunate desire,
My faithful breast did cover,
Then, when I was of late a wretched mortal lover.
Through several orbs which one fair planet bear,
Where I behold distinctly as I pass
The hints of Galileo's glass,
I touch at last the spangled sphere:
Here all th' extended sky
Is but one galaxy,
’Tis all so bright and gay,
And the joint eyes of night make up a perfect day.
Where I behold distinctly as I pass
The hints of Galileo's glass,
I touch at last the spangled sphere:
Here all th' extended sky
Is but one galaxy,
’Tis all so bright and gay,
And the joint eyes of night make up a perfect day.
Where am I now? Angels, and God is here;
An unexhausted ocean of delight
Swallows my senses quite,
And drowns all What, or How, or Where!
Not Paul, who first did thither pass,
And this great world's Columbus was,
An unexhausted ocean of delight
Swallows my senses quite,
And drowns all What, or How, or Where!
Not Paul, who first did thither pass,
And this great world's Columbus was,
