When the septentrion of the first heaven[1] which never setting knew, nor rising, nor veil of other cloud than sin,—and which was making every one there acquainted with his duty, as the lower[2] makes whoever turns the helm to come to port,—stopped still, the truthful people[3] who had come first between the griffon and it,[4] turned to the chariot as to their peace, and one of them, as if sent from heaven, singing, cried thrice, “Veni, sponsa, de Libano,”[5] and all the others after.
[1] The seven candlesticks, symbols of the sevenfold spirit of the Lord.
[2] The lower septentrion, or the seven stars of the Great Bear.
[3] The personifications of the truthful books of the Old Testament.
[4] The septentrion of candlesticks.
[5] “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse.”—The Song of Solomon, iv. 8.
As time blessed at the last trump will arise swiftly, each from his tomb, singing hallelujah with recovered voice,[1] so upon the divine chariot, ad vocem tanti senis,[2] rose up a hundred ministers and messengers of life eternal. All were saying, “Benedictus, qui venis,”[3] and, scattering flowers above and around, “Manibus o date lilia plenis.”[4]
[1] “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven, saying, Alleluia-”—Revelation, xix. 1.
[2] “At the voice of so great an elder;” these words are in Latin apparently only for the sake of the rhyme.
[3] “Blessed thou that comest.”