7. Lo! at Ereenia's voice, A Ship of Heaven comes sailing down the skies. Where wouldst thou bear her? cries The ancient Sire of Gods. {57} Straight to the Swerga, to my Bower of Bliss, The Glendoveer replies, To Indra's own abodes. Foe of her foe, were it alone for this Indra should guard her from his vengeance there; But if the God forbear, Unwilling yet the perilous strife to try, Or shrinking from the dreadful Rajah's might, . . . Weak as I am, O Father, even I Stand forth in Seeva's sight. 8. Trust thou in Him whatever betide, And stand forth fearlessly! The Sire of Gods replied: All that He wills is right, and doubt not thou, Howe'er our feeble scope of sight May fail us now, His righteous will in all things must be done. My blessing be upon thee, O my son! VII. THE SWERGA. {58} 1. Then in the Ship of Heaven, Ereenia laid The waking, wondering Maid; The Ship of Heaven, instinct with thought, display'd Its living sail, and glides along the sky. On either side in wavy tide, The clouds of morn along its path divide; The Winds who swept in wild career on high, Before its presence check their charmed force; The Winds that loitering lagg'd along their course, Around the living Bark enamour'd play, Swell underneath the sail, and sing before its way. {59} 2. That Bark, in shape, was like the furrowed shell Wherein the Sea-Nymphs to their parent-king, On festal day, their duteous offerings bring. Its hue? . . . Go watch the last green light Ere Evening yields the western sky to Night; Or fix upon the Sun thy strenuous sight Till thou hast reach'd its orb of chrysolite. The sail from end to end display'd Bent, like a rainbow, o'er the maid. An Angel's head, with visual eye, Through trackless space, directs its chosen way; Nor aid of wing, nor foot, nor fin, Requires to voyage o'er the obedient sky. Smooth as the swan when not a breeze at even Disturbs the surface of the silver stream, Through air and sunshine sails the Ship of Heaven. 3. Recumbent there the Maiden glides along On her aerial way, How swift she feels not, though the swiftest wind Had flagg'd in flight behind. Motionless as a sleeping babe she lay, {60} And all serene in mind, Feeling no fear; for that etherial air With such new life and joyance fill'd her heart, Fear could not enter there; For sure she deem'd her mortal part was o'er, And she was sailing to the heavenly shore; And that Angelic form, who mov'd beside, Was some good Spirit sent to be her guide.