| |
| AS rays around the source of light | |
| Stream upward ere he glow in sight, | |
| And watching by his future flight | |
| Set the clear heavens on fire; | |
| So on the King of Martyrs wait | 5 |
| Three chosen bands, in royal state, | |
| And all earth owns, of good and great, | |
| Is gathered in that choir. | |
| |
| One presses on, and welcomes death; | |
| One calmly yields his willing breath, | 10 |
| Nor slow, nor hurrying, but in faith | |
| Content to die or live: | |
| And some, the darlings of their Lord, | |
| Play smiling with the flame and sword, | |
| And, ere they speak, to his sure word | 15 |
| Unconscious witness give. | |
| |
| Foremost and nearest to his throne, | |
| By perfect robes of triumph known | |
| And likest him in look and tone, | |
| The holy Stephen kneels, | 20 |
| With steadfast gaze, as when the sky | |
| Flew open to his fainting eye, | |
| Which like a fading lamp flashed high, | |
| Seeing what death conceals. | |
| |
| Well might you guess what vision bright | 25 |
| Was present to his raptured sight, | |
| Even as reflected streams of light | |
| Their solar source betray,— | |
| The glory which our God surrounds, | |
| The Son of Man, the atoning wounds,— | 30 |
| He sees them all; and earth’s dull bounds | |
| Are melting fast away. | |
| |
| He sees them all,—no other view | |
| Could stamp the Saviour’s likeness true, | |
| Or with his love so deep imbrue | 35 |
| Man’s sullen heart and gross,— | |
| “Jesu, do thou my soul receive; | |
| Jesu, do thou my foes forgive”: | |
| He who would learn that prayer must live | |
| Under the holy cross. | 40 |
| |
| He, though he seem on earth to move, | |
| Must glide in air like gentle dove, | |
| From yon unclouded depths above | |
| Must draw his purer breath; | |
| Till men behold his angel face | 45 |
| All radiant with celestial grace, | |
| Martyr all o’er, and meet to trace | |
| The lines of Jesus’ death. | |
| |
