"But, that ye err not, Messianic woe Is not the end; a glorious change succeeds. Isaiah chanted it in sequel glad And contrast of the sorrow-laden strain That mourned Messiah's sufferings; hear the song: 'When thou, Jehovah, shalt His soul have made An offering for sin, Messiah then The endless issue of His pain shall see; Still on and on He shall His days prolong, And in His hand the pleasure of the Lord Shall prosper; of the travail of His soul He shall see fruit and shall be satisfied.' So, with rejoicing too serenely full For exultation, sang Isaiah then Of Messianic glory following shame. "And now, concerning Jesus whom ye slew, Know, brethren, that He burst the bands of death, Which could not hold the Lord of life in thrall. Know that He, having risen, rose again, Ascending far above all height, and led Captive captivity; attended so With retinue of deliverance numberless, He entered heaven a Conqueror and a King; Before Him lifted up their heads the gates, The everlasting doors admitted Him. There sits He now associate by the side Of His Almighty Father, Lord of all. For to Him every knee shall bow, in heaven, On earth, and every tongue confess that He, Jesus, is Lord; Jehovah wills it so. "Fall, brethren, I adjure you, haste to fall Betimes upon this stone and bruise your pride; Wait but too long, this stone will fall on you: Not then your pride, but you, not bruised will be, But ground to undistinguishable dust." So Stephen spoke; and ceased, as loth to cease. The moments of his speaking had been like A slow and dreadful imminence of storm. With those august and awful opening words Of his, which were not his, but God's, it was As when an altered elemental mood Usurps the atmosphere; the winds are laid, Clouds gather, mass to mass, anon perchance Roll back, disclosing spaces of clear sky, But close again, deeper and darker, full Of thunder, silent yet, of lightning, leashed From leaping forth, but watchful for its prey. Such had been Stephen's speaking, boded storm; His ceasing was the tempest burst at last-- A silent tempest, silent and unseen, Rending the elements of the world of soul!