Part 3

John named the stones that he had seen, I knew the order that he made; The first a jasper must have been, That on the lowest base was laid, Beneath the rest it glinted green; A sapphire in the second grade; Chalcedony, from blemish clean, In the third course was fair arrayed; Fourth, emerald, of greenest shade, Fifth, sardonyx, was raised thereon; The sixth a ruby, as is said In the Revelation of St. John.

John joined to these the chrysolite, The seventh gem in that basement; The eighth, a beryl, clear and white; The topaz, ninth, its luster lent; Tenth, chrysophrase, both soft and bright; Eleventh, the jacinth, translucent; And twelfth, and noblest to recite, Amethyst, blue with purple blent. The wall above those basements went Jasper, like glass that glistening shone; I saw, as the story doth present,-- The Revelation of St. John.

I saw, as John doth clear devise: The great stones rose like a broad stair; Above, the city, to my eyes, In height, length, breadth appeared four-square; The jasper wall shone amber-wise, The golden streets as glass gleamed fair; The dwellings glowed in glorious guise With every stone most rich and rare. Each length of bright wall builded there For full twelve furlongs' space stretched on, And height, length, breadth all equal were: "I saw one mete it," writeth John.

XVIII

As John doth write more met mine eye: Within each wall were set three gates; Twelve in succession I could spy, Portals adorned with bright gold plates; Each gate a single pearl saw I, A perfect pearl, as John relates. On each a name was written high Of Israel's sons after their dates, The oldest first, as the story states. Within those streets by night or noon, Light beams that not one hour abates; They needed neither sun nor moon.

Of sun or moon they had no need; For God Himself was their lamp light, The Lamb their lantern was indeed; From Him the city shone all bright. Through wall and dwelling my looks might speed, Such clearness could not hinder sight. Of the high throne ye might take heed, With draperies of radiant white, As John the Apostle doth endite; High God Himself did sit thereon. From the throne a river welled outright Was brighter than both sun and moon.

Sun nor moon shone never so sweet As the full flood of that bright stream; Swiftly it swept through every street, Untainted did the water gleam. Chapel nor church mine eyes did meet; Therein is no temple as I deem; The Almighty is their minster meet, The Lamb their sacrifice supreme. The gates with neither bolt nor beam, Wide open stand at night and noon; To enter there let no man dream Whom sin hath stained beneath the moon.

The moon may there win no least might, She is too spotty, grey and grim; Therein, moreover, is never night, Why should the moon fill full her rim To rival the all-glorious light That beams upon the river's brim? The planets are in poorest plight; The sun itself is far too dim. Beside the stream trees tall and trim Bear living fruits that none doth prune; Twelve times a year bends low each limb, Renewed with fruitage every moon.

Beneath the moon full well might fail The heart of mortal to endure The marvel that did mine eyes assail, Fashioned the fancy to allure. I stood as still as a startled quail, For wonder of its fair figure, I felt no rest and no travail, Ravished before such radiance pure. I say, and with conviction sure, Had the eyes of man received that boon, Though wisest clerks sought for his cure, His life were lost beneath the moon.

XIX

Now, even as the full moon might rise Ere daylight doth to darkness fall, Sudden I saw with still surprise Within that shining city-wall, The streets full-thronged in wondrous wise, Silent, with never a herald's call, With virgins in the selfsame guise As my beloved, sweet and small. Each head was crowned with coronal, Pearl-wrought, and every robe was white; On each breast bound, imperial, The Pearl of Price with great delight.

With great delight together going On glassy golden streets they tread; To a hundred thousand swiftly growing, And all alike were they garmented: The gladdest face who could be knowing? The Lamb did proudly pass ahead, His seven horns of clear red gold glowing, His robes like pearls high valuèd. On toward the throne their way they thread, None crowded in that band so bright, But mild as maidens when mass is said, So fared they forth with great delight.

The great delight His coming gave, It were too much for me to tell. When He approached the Elders grave, Prone there before His feet they fell; Legions of summoned angels brave Swayed censers of the sweetest smell; With music like a mighty wave, All sang in praise of that gay Jewel. The hymn might strike through earth to hell That with joy those hosts of heaven recite; To praise the Lamb I liked full well, Amid the group in great delight.

Delighted, I would fain devise His loveliness, with mind intent: First was He, blithest, best to prize, Of all on whom man's speech is spent; So nobly white His draperies, Such grace His simple glances lent; But a wide, wet wound my gaze descries Beneath His heart, through His skin rent; Down His white side the blood was sent. Alas! I thought, what scorn or spite Could any human heart have bent In such a deed to take delight?

The Lamb's delight might no man doubt, Though that wide wound His hurt displayed, From His fair face looked lovely out Glad glances, glorious, unafraid, I looked upon His shining rout, With fullest life so bright arrayed, My little queen there moved about, I had thought beside me in the glade. Ah Lord! how much of mirth she made! Among her peers she was so white! The stream I surely needs must wade, For longing love, in great delight.

XX

Delight that flooded eye and ear My mortal mind beatified; When I saw her, I must reach my dear, Though she beyond the brook abide. Nothing, I thought, could keep me here, No crippling blow hold my strength tied; I would plunge, whatever interfere, And swim the stream, though there I died. But ere the water I had tried, Even as I would my vow fulfill, From my purpose I was turned aside; It was not to my Prince's will.

My wilful purpose pleased not Him, That I with headlong zeal essayed; Though I was rash of thought and limb, Yet suddenly my deed was stayed. As I sprang forward to the brim, The action in my dreaming made Me waken in my arbour trim. My head upon the mound was laid Where my pearl to the grass once strayed. I stretched my body, frightened, chill, And, sighing, to myself I said: "Now all be to the Prince's will."

Against my will was I exiled From that bright region, fair and fain, From that life, glad and undefiled, And longing dulled my sense again; I swooned in sorrow for the child, Needs must my heart cry and complain: "O Pearl, dear was thy counsel mild, In this true vision of my brain! If very truth divide us twain; If thou goest crowned, secure from ill, Well for me in my prison-pain That thou art to the Prince's will."

To the Prince's will had my heart bent, And sought but what to me was given, Held fast to that, with true intent, As my Pearl prayed me out of heaven; Did I to God my thoughts present, More in His mysteries had I thriven. But a man will seek more than is sent, Till from his hand his hope be riven. Thus from my joy was I forth driven, From the life upon that holy hill. Oh, fools, that with the Lord have striven, Or proffered gifts against his will!

The Prince's will to serve aright The Christian may full well divine; For I have found Him, day and night, A God, a Lord, a Friend in fine. Upon this mound my soul hath sight, Where I for piteous sorrow pine; My Pearl to God I pledge and plight, With Christ's dear blessing and with mine,-- His, who, in form of bread and wine, The priest doth daily show us still. His servants may we be, or shine, Pure pearls, according to his will.