"Of the sinless saved the tale is told,-- Read in the Book where it is said: When Jesus walked, among men of old, The people a pa.s.sage to Him made; Bringing their bairns for Him to hold, For the blessing of His hand they prayed.

The twelve reproved them: 'Overbold To seek the Master;' and sternly stayed.

But Jesus said: 'Be ye not afraid; Suffer the children, nor prevent; G.o.d's kingdom is for such arrayed.'

Surely saved are the innocent."

XIII

"Christ called to Him the innocents mild, And said His kingdom no man might win, Unless he came thither as a child,--Not otherwise might he enter in, Harmless, faithful, undefiled, With never a spot of soiling sin,--For these whom the world has not beguiled Gladly shall one the gate unpin.

There shall that endless bliss begin, The merchant sought, and straight was led To barter all stuffs men weave and spin, To buy him a pearl unblemished."

"'This pearl unblemished, bought so dear, For which the merchant his riches gave, Is like the kingdom of heaven clear;'

So said the Father of world and wave.

It is a flawless, perfect sphere, Polished and pure, and bright and brave; As on my heart it doth appear, It is common to all who to virtue clave.

My Lord, the Lamb Who died to save, Here set it in token of His blood shed For peace. Then let the wild world rave, But buy thee this pearl unblemished."

"O Pearl unblemished, in pure pearls dressed, That beareth," said I, "the pearl of price, Who formed thy figure-and thy vest?

Truly he wrought with cunning nice; For thy beauty, above nature's best, Pa.s.seth Pygmalion's artifice; Nor Aristotle the lore possessed To depict in words so fair device.

Than fleur-de-lys thou art fairer thrice, Angel-mannered and courtly bred,-- Tell to me truly: in Paradise What meaneth the pearl unblemished?"

"My spotless Lamb, who all doth heal,"

She answered, "my dear Destiny, Chose me in marriage bond to seal; Unfit, He graced me regally, From your world's woe come into weal.

He called me of His courtesy: 'Come hither to me, my lover leal, For mote nor spot is none in thee.'

He gave me my might and great beauty; He washed my weeds in His blood so red, And crowned me, forever clean to be, And clothed me in pearls unblemished."

"Unblemished bride, bright to behold, That royalty hath so rich and rare, What is this Lamb, that thou hast told How for wedded wife He called thee there?

Above all others dost thou make bold, As His chosen lady His life to share?

So many, comely in combs of gold, For Christ have lived in strife and care, Must these to a lower place repair, That never any with Him may wed, Save only thyself, so proud and fair, Peerless Queen, and unblemished?"

XIV

"Unblemished," answered she again, "Without a spot of black or gray, With honour may I this maintain; But 'peerless Queen' I did not say.

Brides of the Lamb in bliss we reign, An hundred and forty thousand gay, As in the Apocalypse is made plain, Saint John beheld them on a day; On the hill of Zion he saw them stay, In vision his spirit looked on them, For the wedding clad in bright-array, At the city of New Jerusalem."

"Of Jerusalem in speech I tell; And what He is if thou wouldst see-- My Lamb, my Lord, my dear Jewel, My Joy, my Love, my Bliss so free,-- The prophet Isaiah writeth well Of His most mild humility: 'Guiltless, when men upon Him fell For never a fault nor felony, As a sheep to the slaughter led was He; Quiet, the while the crowd contemn, As a lamb in the shearer's hands might be, He was judged by Jews in Jerusalem.'"

"In Jerusalem was my Lover slain, Rent on the rood by ruffians bold; To bear our ills He was full fain, To suffer our sorrows manifold; Buffeted until blood did stain That face so lovely to behold; He took upon Him all sin and pain, Even He of Whom not one sin is told; On the rude cross stretched faint and cold, He let men deride him and condemn; Meek as a lamb, betrayed and sold, He died for us in Jerusalem."

"At Jerusalem, Jordan and Galilee, Wherever Saint John came to baptize, His words with Isaiah's words agree.

On Jesus he lifted up his eyes, Speaking of Him this prophecy: 'Behold the Lamb of G.o.d!' he cries: 'Who bears the world's sins, this is He!

The guilt of all upon Him lies, Though He wrought evil in no wise.

The branches springing from that stem Who can recount? 'T is He who dies For our sake in Jerusalem.'"

"In Jerusalem my Lover sweet Twice as a lamb did thus appear, Even as the prophets both repeat, So meek the mien that He did wear; The third time also, as is meet, In the Revelation is written clear.

Reading a book on His high seat Midmost the throne that saints ensphere, The Apostle John beheld Him near; That book seven sacred seals begem; And at that sight all folk felt fear In h.e.l.l, in earth and Jerusalem."

XV

This Jerusalem Lamb had never stain Of other hue than perfect white, That showeth neither streak nor strain Of soil, but is like wool to sight; And souls that free of sin remain The Lamb receiveth with delight; And, though each day a group we gain, There comes no strife for room nor right, Nor rivalry our bliss to blight.

The more the merrier, I profess.

In company our love grows bright, In honour more and never less.

"Lessening of bliss no comer brings To us who bear this pearl at breast; Nor show they flaws nor tarnishings Who wear such pure pearls like a crest.

Though round our corpses the clay clings, And though ye mourn us without rest, Knowledge have we of goodly things.

Through the first death our hope we test; Grief goes; at each ma.s.s we are blest By the Lamb Who gives us happiness; The bliss of each is bright and best, And no one's honour is the less."

"That thou my tale the less may doubt, In the Revelation 'tis told, and more: 'I saw,' says John, 'a goodly rout The hill of Zion covering o'er, The Lamb, with maidens round about, An hundred thousand and forty and four, And each brow, fairly written out, The Lamb's name and His Father's bore.

Then a sound from heaven I heard outpour, As streams, full laden, foam and press, Or as thunders among dark crags roar, The tumult was, and nothing less."

"'Nathless, though high that shout might ring, And loud the voices sounding near, A strain full new I heard them sing, And sweet and strange it was to hear.

Like harper's hands upon the string Was that new song they sang so clear; The n.o.ble notes went vibrating, And gentle words came to my ear.

Close by G.o.d's throne, without one fear, Where the four beasts His power confess, And the elders stand so grave of cheer, They sang their new song, none the less."

"'Nathless is none with skill so fine, For all the crafts that ever he knew, That of that song might sing a line; Save these that hold the Lamb in view; From earth brought to that land divine, As first fruits that to G.o.d are due, They serve the Lamb and bear His sign, As like Himself in face and hue; For never lying nor tale untrue Defiled their lips in life's distress;'

Whatever might move them, they but drew Nearer the Master, none the less."

"Nevertheless, speak out I must, My Pearl, though queries rude I pose.

To try thy fair wit were unjust Whom Christ to His own chamber chose.

Behold, I am but dung and dust, And thou a rare and radiant rose, Abiding here in life, and l.u.s.t Of loveliness that ever grows.

A hind that no least cunning knows, I needs must my one doubt express; Though boisterous as the wind that blows, Let my prayer move thee none the less."

XVI