Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/490

452 His mates are gone, and he

For mist can scarcely see

A strange wayfarer coming to his side—

Who bade him loose his boat, and fix his oar,

And row him straightway to the further shore,

And wait while he did there a space abide.

The fisher awed obeys,

That voice had note so clear of sweet command;

Through pouring tide he pulls, and drizzling haze,

And sets his freight ashore on Thorney strand.

The Minster's outlined mass

Rose dim from the morass,

And thitherward the stranger took his way.

Lo, on a sudden all the Pile is bright!

Nave, choir and transept glorified with light,

While tongues of fire on coign and carving play!

And heavenly odors fair

Come streaming with the floods of glory in,

And carols float along the happy air,

As if the reign of joy did now begin.

Then all again is dark;

And by the fisher's bark

The unknown passenger returning stands.

O Saxon fisher! thou hast had with thee

The fisher from the Lake of Galilee—

So saith he, blessing him with outspread hands;

Then fades, but speaks the while:

At dawn thou to King Sebert shall relate

How his St. Peter's Church in Thorney Isle

Peter, his friend, with light did consecrate.