_The Earth._ I have groaned; I have travailed: I am weary. I am blind with my own grief, and cannot see, As clear-eyed angels can, his agony, And what I see I also can sustain, Because his power protects me from his pain. I have groaned; I have travailed: I am dreary, Hearkening the thick sobs of my children's heart: How can I say "Depart" To that Atoner making calm and free? Am I a God as he, To lay down peace and power as willingly? _Ador._ He looked for some to pity. There is none. All pity is within him and not for him. His earth is iron under him, and o'er him His skies are brass. His seraphs cry "Alas!" With hallelujah voice that cannot weep. And man, for whom the dreadful work is done ... _Scornful Voices from the Earth_. If verily this _be_ the Eternal's son-- _Ador._ Thou hearest. Man is grateful. _Zerah._ Can I hear Nor darken into man and cease for ever My seraph-smile to wear? Was it for such, It pleased him to overleap His glory with his love and sever From the God-light and the throne And all angels bowing down, For whom his every look did touch New notes of joy on the unworn string Of an eternal worshipping? For such, he left his heaven? There, though never bought by blood And tears, we gave him gratitude: We loved him there, though unforgiven. _Ador._ The light is riven Above, around, And down in lurid fragments flung, That catch the mountain-peak and stream With momentary gleam, Then perish in the water and the ground. River and waterfall, Forest and wilderness, Mountain and city, are together wrung Into one shape, and that is shapelessness; The darkness stands for all. _Zerah._ The pathos hath the day undone: The death-look of His eyes Hath overcome the sun And made it sicken in its narrow skies. _Ador._ Is it to death? He dieth. _Zerah._ Through the dark He still, he only, is discernible-- The naked hands and feet transfixèd stark, The countenance of patient anguish white, Do make themselves a light More dreadful than the glooms which round them dwell, And therein do they shine. _Ador._ God! Father-God! Perpetual Radiance on the radiant throne! Uplift the lids of inward deity, Flashing abroad Thy burning Infinite! Light up this dark where there is nought to see Except the unimagined agony Upon the sinless forehead of the Son!