“One night, when urged with more than usual zeal, 300 And feeling all that such enthusiasts feel, I paced the altar by, the pillars round, And knew no terror in the sacred ground; For mine were thoughts that banish’d all such fear— I wish’d, I long’d, to have that form appear; And, as I paced the sacred aisles, I cried, ‘Let not thy Emma’s spirit be denied The sight of thine; or if I may not see, Still by some token let her certain be!’ “At length the anxious thoughts my strength subdued, 310 And sleep o’erpower’d me in my solitude; Then was I dreaming of unearthly race, The glorious inmates of a blessed place; Where lofty minds celestial views explore, Heaven’s bliss enjoy, and heaven’s great King adore; Him there I sought whom I had loved so well— For sure he dwelt where happy spirits dwell! “While thus engaged, I started at a sound, Of what I knew not, but I look’d around; For I was borne on visionary wings, 320 And felt no dread of sublunary things; But rising, walk’d.—A distant window threw A weak, soft light, that help’d me in my view; Something with anxious heart I hoped to see, And pray’d, ‘O! God of all things, let it be! For all are thine, were made by thee, and thou Canst both the meeting and the means allow; Thou canst make clear my sight, or thou canst make More gross the form that his loved mind shall take, Canst clothe his spirit for my fleshly sight, 330 Or make my earthly sense more pure and bright.’ “So was I speaking, when without a sound There was a movement in the sacred ground: I saw a figure rising, but could trace No certain features, no peculiar face; But I prepared my mind that form to view, Nor felt a doubt—he promised, and was true! I should embrace his angel, and my clay, And what was mortal in me, melt away. “O! that ecstatic horror in my frame, 340 That o’er me thus, a favour’d mortal, came! Bless’d beyond mortals—and the body now I judged would perish, though I knew not how; The gracious power around me could translate And make me pass to that immortal state: Thus shall I pay the debt that must be paid, And dying live, nor be by death delay’d; And when so changed, I should with joy sustain The heavenly converse, and with him remain. “I saw the distant shade, and went with awe, 350 But not with terror, to the form I saw; Yet slowly went, for he I did believe Would meet, and soul to soul his friend receive; So on I drew, concluding in my mind, I cannot judge what laws may spirits bind; Though I dissolve, and mingle with the blest, } I am a new and uninstructed guest, } And ere my love can speak, he should be first address’d. } “Thus I began to speak—my new-born pride, My love, and daring hope, the words supplied. 360 “‘Dear, happy shade! companion of the good, The just, the pure, do I on thee intrude?