So they went down together to the door, Which, when the curate opened, lo! without The beggar sat; and he saluted him: "Good morrow, master." "Wherefore art thou here?" The curate asked: "it is not service time, And none will enter now to give thee alms." Then said the beggar, "I have hope at heart That I shall go to my poor house no more." "Art thou so sick that thou dost think to die?" The curate said. With that the beggar laughed, And under his dim eyelids gathered tears, And he was all a-tremble with a strange And moving exaltation. "Ay," quoth he, And set his face toward high heaven: "I think The blessing that I wait on must be near." Then said the curate, "God be good to thee." And, straight, the little child put forth his hand, And touched him. "Master, master, hush! You should not, master, speak so carelessly In this great presence." But the touch so wrought, That, lo! the dazzled curate staggered back, For dread effulgence from the beggar's eyes Smote him, and from the crippled limbs shot forth Terrible lights, as pure long blades of fire. "Withdraw thy touch! withdraw thy touch!" he cried, "Or else shall I be blinded." Then the child Stood back from him; and he sat down apart, Recovering of his manhood: and he heard The beggar and the child discourse of things Dreadful for glory, till his spirits came Anew; and, when the beggar looked on him, He said, "If I offend not, pray you tell Who and what are you--I behold a face Marred with old age, sickness, and poverty,-- A cripple with a staff, who long hath sat Begging, and ofttimes moaning, in the porch, For pain and for the wind's inclemency. What are you?" Then the beggar made reply, "I was a delegate, a living power; My work was bliss, for seeds were in my hand To plant a new-made world. O happy work! It grew and blossomed; but my dwelling-place Was far remote from heaven. I have not seen; I knew no wish to enter there. But lo! There went forth rumors, running out like rays, How some, that were of power like even to mine, Had made request to come and find a place Within its walls. And these were satisfied With promises, and sent to this far world To take the weeds of your mortality, And minister, and suffer grief and pain, And die like men. Then were they gathered in. They saw a face, and were accounted kin To Whom thou knowest, for he is kin to men.