Page:Shelley, a poem, with other writings (Thomson, Debell).djvu/29

Rh "I who was sent to charm their souls to love,   Could only vex them to worse hate and scorn; And yet I swear, O Raphael, that I strove   With all my power to mend their state forlorn:   By every pang they felt my heart was torn, And wounded worse by their unkindly spurning: I love them with a love of infinite yearning.

"Lo, I have failed: but God, He cannot fail.  He speeds a shaft against Hell's Dragon-King, And it falls shivered from the iron mail;—   There let it rot, the weak and worthless thing!   I dare to triumph in my perishing: His quiver lacks not many a nobler dart Equal to pierce the Monster to the heart!"

But Raphael raised the Seraph from his kneeling, And prest him heart to heart in long embrace; Then stood erect, to all the heights revealing The fulgent beauty of his solemn face; And flung abroad his voice to swell through space And thrill on all the ever-rolling spheres Triumphant music for celestial ears.

"I call to witness all the angel-quires  Sphering the heavens with their eternal hymn, I call to witness all the orbed fires   Bearing the light of life through Æther dim; The Saints, the Cherubim, the Seraphim, All armies of the Servants of our Lord, I call to witness to my just award.