Collected Works (Vol. I)

78. JEPHTHAH The spirit has God for a neighbour, And the wheels unreturning that ran Return to the heart of the roses, And curl in the new blossom now, As the holiest fire that encloses Gray flame? on the holiest brow. So midnight with magic reposes, And slumbers to visions bow. For the soul of man, being free, shall pass the gates of God, | And_ the spirit find the Sea by the feet of clim ? untrod, And the flesh, a lifeless ember, in ashen fear vrow cold, As the lives before remember the perished hours of gold. [ xeunt all but JEPHTHAH. JEPHTHAH. Surely, my God, now I am left alone Kneeling before Thy throne, T may grow beautiful, even I, to see Thy beauty fair and free. For on the vast expanses of the wold I hear the feet of gold, And over all the skies I see a flame That flickers with Thy Name. Therefore, because Thou hast hid Thy face, and yet Given me not to forget The foaming cloud that shaped itself a rose, Whose steady passion glows Within the secretest fortress of my heart, Because, my God, Thou Art, And I am chosen of Thee for this folk To break the foreign yoke, Therefore, Existence of Existence, hear ! Bend low ‘Thine holy ear, And make Thyself, unseen, most terrible To these fierce fends of hell That torture holiest cars with false com- plaint : Bend down, and bid me faint 1 The flame of Chokmah—wisdom—which is gray in colour, C/. the ITindu Ajna, 2° Microprosopus, who reacheth not so high as Understanding. Into the arms of night, to see Thine hosts March past the holy ccasts, A wall of golden weapons for the land, And let me touch Thy hand, And feel Thy presence very near to-night ! I sink as with delight Through places numberless with fervid fires Of holiest desires Into I know not what a.cradle, made Of subtle-shapéed shade, And arms most perdurable.!_ I am lost In thought beyond all cost— Nay, but my spirit breaks chain That held it down. The pain Of death is past and I am free. This body, dead, must lie Till Thou come home again, O soaring Soul. The gates supernal roll ! Flash through them, O white-winged, white- blossom ghost ! Ah, God! for I am lost. [ JEPHTHAH remazis motzonless.* [Morning dawns. the slender Nay, I, Enter JARED, Soldiers, Prophet. SOLDIERS. Hfail, captain! We are ready now for death, Or victory, if shining wings are fain To hover over dauntless hearts. Behold Our ready bands to follow to the fray. JEPHTHAH. Welcome! hail ye this happy dawn as one That shall see freedom smile on us, and peace, And victory, and new hours of happiness. 1 Able to endure /o the end. 2 "The description is of a certain spiritual exercise familiar to mystics.