CHRIST. Eternity stands alway fronting God; A stern colossal image, with blind eyes And grand dim lips that murmur evermore God, God, God! while the rush of life and death, The roar of act and thought, of evil and good, The avalanches of the ruining worlds Tolling down space,--the new worlds' genesis Budding in fire,--the gradual humming growth Of the ancient atoms and first forms of earth, The slow procession of the swathing seas And firmamental waters,--and the noise Of the broad, fluent strata of pure airs,-- All these flow onward in the intervals Of that reiterated sound of--GOD! Which WORD innumerous angels straightway lift Wide on celestial altitudes of song And choral adoration, and then drop The burden softly, shutting the last notes In silver wings. Howbeit in the noon of time Eternity shall wax as dumb as Death, While a new voice beneath the spheres shall cry, "God! why hast thou forsaken me, my God?" And not a voice in Heaven shall answer it. [_The transfiguration is complete in sadness._ _Adam._ Thy speech is of the Heavenlies, yet, O Christ, Awfully human are thy voice and face! _Eve._ My nature overcomes me from thine eyes. CHRIST. In the set noon of time shall one from Heaven, An angel fresh from looking upon God, Descend before a woman, blessing her With perfect benediction of pure love, For all the world in all its elements, For all the creatures of earth, air, and sea, For all men in the body and in the soul, Unto all ends of glory and sanctity. _Eve._ O pale, pathetic Christ--I worship thee! I thank thee for that woman!