When Wesley died, the Angelic orders,
To see him at the state,
Press'd, so incontinent that the warders
Forgot to shut the gate.
So I, that hitherto had follow'd
As one with grief o'ercast,
Where 'fore the doors a space was hollowed
Crept in, and heard what pass'd.
And God said:- 'Seeing thou hast given
Thy life to my great sounds,
Choose thou through all the cirque of Heaven
What most of bliss redounds.'
Then Wesley said:- 'I hear the thunder
Low growling from thy seat -
Grant me that I may bind it under
The trampling of my feet.'
And Wesley said:- 'See, lightning quivers
Upon the presence walls -
Lord, give me of it four great rivers
To be my manuals.'
And then I saw the thunder chidden
As slave to his desire;
And then I saw the space bestridden
With four great bands of fire;
And stage by stage, stop stop subtending,
Each lever strong and true,
One shape inextricable blending,
The awful organ grew.
Then certain angels clad the Master
In very marvellous wise,
Till clouds of rose and alabaster
Conceal'd him from mine eyes.
And likest to a dove soft brooding
The innocent figure ran;
So breathed the breath of his preluding,
And then the fugue began -
Began; but, to his office turning
The porter wrung his key;
Wherefore, although my heart was yearning
I had to go, but he
Play'd on, and as I downward clomb
I heard the mighty bars
Of thunder-gusts, that shook heaven's dome
And moved the balanced stars.