Page:Redemption, a Poem.djvu/100

94 Had faded from the sky; the moon, her robe Of silver cast o'er twilight's somber gray, And softly bright illumed Esdrela's vale. Inlaid with bossy patines, burnish'd gold, Resplendent shone th' expanse of heav'n's dome; Whilst glad the spheres their diapason roll'd, Harmonious with the archangelic choirs, That now the Virgin's mystic nuptials hymn. A mellow light, softer than Cynthia's beams, When purest pour'd upon Siloe's pool, Or Cedron's brook, pervaded her abode, As Gabriel approach'd the new Espoused. Unhelm'd, his baldrick laid aside, and sword And spear, succinct in silver tunic clad, He stood; immortal youth bloom'd in his face, His graceful form celestial light adorn'd, As, smiling, he his message glad announced:
 * "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; hail,

Illustrious daughter of a race of kings, Glory of patriarchs, of priests the crown, And terror of th' infernal gates of hell. Blessed art thou amongst women; more bless'd Than Eve; thyself predestined second Eve, The hope and safety of a fallen world, And last, best work of all-creative skill."
 * So spake th' archangel. Mary trembling heard;

And, at his words astonish'd and perplex'd, Revolved the strange saluting in her mind; Both strange and new, for, from celestial lips, Such words to mortal, ne'er had been vouchsafed. Fear moved her troubled thoughts, awe seal'd her lips, Whilst Gabriel, with brow submiss inclined,