What are these lovely ones, yea, what are these? Lo these are they who for pure love of Christ Stripped off the trammels of soft silken ease, Beggaring themselves betimes, to be sufficed Throughout heaven's one eternal day of peace: By golden streets, thro' gates of pearl unpriced, They entered on the joys that will not cease, And found again all firstfruits sacrificed. And wherefore have you harps, and walk in white? Because our happy hearts are chanting psalms. Endless Te Deum for the ended fight; While thro' the everlasting lapse of calms We cast our crowns before the Lamb our Might. |