Tocometowardsus; lo, returningis

Fromserviceofthedaythesixthhandmaiden.

Withreverencethineactsandlooksadorn,

Sothathemaydelighttospeedusupward;

Thinkthatthisdaywillneverdawnagain."

Iwasfamiliarwithhisadmonition

Evertolosenotime; soonthistheme

Hecouldnotuntomespeakcovertly.

Towardsuscamethebeingbeautiful

Vestedinwhite, andinhiscountenance

Suchasappearsthetremulousmorningstar.

Hisarmsheopened, andopenedthenhiswings;

"Come," saidhe, "nearathandherearethesteps,

Andeasyfromhenceforthistheascent."

Atthisannouncementfewaretheywhocome!

Ohumancreatures, borntosoaraloft,

Whyfallyethusbeforealittlewind?

Heledusontowheretherockwascleft;

Theresmoteuponmyforeheadwithhiswings,

Thenasafepassagepromiseduntome.

Asontherighthand, toascendthemount

Whereseatedisthechurchthatlordethit

O'erthewell-guided, aboveRubaconte,

Theboldabruptnessoftheascentisbroken

Bystairwaysthatweremadethereintheage

Whenstillweresafetheledgerandthestave,

E'enthusattemperedisthebankwhichfalls

Sheerdownwardfromthesecondcirclethere;

Butonthis, sideandthatthehighrockgraze.

Aswewereturningthitherwardourpersons,

"Beatipauperesspiritu," voices

Sanginsuchwisethatspeechcouldtellitnot.

Ahme! howdifferentaretheseentrances

FromtheInfernal! forwithanthemshere

Oneenters, andbelowwithwildlaments.

Wenowwerehuntingupthesacredstairs,

Anditappearedtomebyfarmoreeasy

Thanontheplainithadappearedbefore.

WhenceI: "MyMaster, say, whatheavything

Hasbeenupliftedfromme, sothathardly