Slowly, as
though a wind should bend straight trees into an arching round, the
plain walls took on themselves a form of perfect architectural
beauty,--like swaying stems of flowers or intertwisted branches, the
lines formed symmetrically, and through the shadowy sculptured
semblance came the gleam of "a light that never was on sea or
land,"--the dazzling light of thousands of shining wings!--of
thousands of lustrous watchful eyes!--of thousands of dazzling
faces, that shone like stars or were fair as flowers! The Vision
grew more and more beautiful--more and more full of light--and
through veils of golden vapour, great branching lilies seemed to
grow and blossom out, filling the air with perfume, and in their
flowering beauty perfected the airy semblance of this wondrous Place
of Prayer built by spiritual hands--and like a far-off echo of
sweetness falling from unseen heights there came a musical whisper
of the chorus sung by the poor--
"All God s angels will say, 'Well done!'
Whenever thy mortal race is run.
White and forgiven,
Thou'lt enter heaven,
And pass, unchallenged, the Golden Gate,
Where welcoming spirits watch and wait
To hail thy coming with sweet accord
To the Holy City of God the Lord!"
A convulsive trembling seized the Cardinal's mortal frame--but the
soul within him was strong and invincible.
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