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THE ANGELS. THE ANGELS of the Planets Seven, | |
| Across the shining fields of heaven | |
| The natal star we bring! | |
| Dropping our sevenfold virtues down | |
| As priceless jewels in the crown | 5 |
| Of Christ, our new-born King. | |
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RAPHAEL. I am the Angel of the Sun, | |
| Whose flaming wheels began to run | |
| When God’s almighty breath | |
| Said to the darkness and the Night, | 10 |
| Let there be light! and there was light | |
| I bring the gift of Faith. | |
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ONAFIEL. I am the Angel of the Moon, | |
| Darkened to be rekindled soon | |
| Beneath the azure cope! | 15 |
| Nearest to earth, it is my ray | |
| That best illumes the midnight way; | |
| I bring the gift of Hope! | |
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ANAEL. The Angel of the Star of Love, | |
| The Evening Star, that shines above | 20 |
| The place where lovers be, | |
| Above all happy hearths and homes, | |
| On roofs of thatch, or golden domes, | |
| I give him Charity! | |
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ZOBIACHEL. The Planet Jupiter is mine! | 25 |
| The mightiest star of all that shine, | |
| Except the sun alone! | |
| He is the High Priest of the Dove, | |
| And sends, from his great throne above, | |
| Justice, that shall atone! | 30 |
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MICHAEL. The Planet Mercury, whose place | |
| Is nearest to the sun in space, | |
| Is my allotted sphere! | |
| And with celestial ardor swift | |
| I bear upon my hands the gift | 35 |
| Of heavenly Prudence here! | |
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URIEL. I am the Minister of Mars, | |
| The strongest star among the stars! | |
| My songs of power prelude | |
| The march and battle of man’s life, | 40 |
| And for the suffering and the strife, | |
| I give him Fortitude! | |
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ORIFEL. The Angel of the uttermost | |
| Of all the shining, heavenly host, | |
| From the far-off expanse | 45 |
| Of the Saturnian, endless space | |
| I bring the last, the crowning grace, | |
| The gift of Temperance! A sudden light shines from the windows of the stable in the village below. | |
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