At sunset of the same day the Christians gather to the burial of Mary on the spot where she died, and Paul describes the promised return of Jesus to accomplish the triumphant rapture and resurrection of the saints.
EUTHANASY.
The stars that with the setting of the sun
Rose in the east had climbed the highest heaven
And from their top of culmination now
With steadfast gaze were looking steeply down
Through spaces pure, or lucid depths of sky
Pure as pure spaces, blanched to perfect blue,
When Mary, waking, softly spoke to Ruth.
They in one chamber lodged, and were so nigh
Each other in their couches side by side
(With Rachel also in close neighborhood)
That they could trust themselves to mutual speech
If need were in the night or if the wish
Prompted, nor hazard to disturb the rest
Wherein Eunicé, nigh them both bestowed,
Lay locked securely in those faster bonds
Which bind the young and innocent asleep.
"Ruth," Mary said, so softly that the sound
Was like a pulse of silence, "art asleep?"
"Nay, all awake to hear what thou wouldst say,"
Ruth answered, in a murmur soft as hers.
She had slept, but she instantly awoke
When Mary scarcely more than thought her name.
This was the wont between them; for Ruth knew
That her kinswoman Mary bore her life
But as a dewdrop trembling on a leaf
That any little waft of wind may scatter;
And so she held herself even when she slept
Still in a kind of vigil not to miss
A breath from Mary that might call for her.
"Thou wilt not sorrow should I leave thee soon,"
Said Mary, with the tone of one who soothed
Far rather than of one who soothed would be.
"I have a premonition that the end
To me of things upon the earth is nigh.
Thou knowest how frail the hold whereby I hold
To life here and how ready I am to go
Hence whensoever He shall call my name,
As once He called it I remember well,
So call it yet again, bidding me come.
I have wavered between this and that in thought;
Now thinking: 'He will surely hither soon
Return, so as we saw Him forty days
After His resurrection wrapt in cloud
Ascending from the mount in Galilee—
Return, and take us all unto Himself;'
But then again I think: 'Perhaps for me
He will anticipate that destined hour
And call me on a sudden thither hence.'
Let not mine ear be heavy if He call!
"O Ruth, I think I have within my heart
Foretokening sent that He will call to-day;
A fluttering in my blood admonishes me.
I should be thankful if I might once more
Ere going bear some witness to His name!
For Krishna's sake, too; ever a soul sincere
He seemed to me, but he would listen now
With other ear, eager to drink the truth."
"Yea, and that may be," Ruth said, "not once more
But often if the will of God be so.
God grant it! For indeed I could but grieve
To lose thee from my side; grieve, though I saw
Heaven open to receive thee, as to Stephen,
My Stephen, it opened—with the glory of God
Full shown Him in the face of Christ the Lord!
"Yet so the weather promises this night
The morning will, I think, be heavenly fair
And mild, and haply thou indeed shalt greet
Full soon thy wished-for chance of testimony.
Thou wilt remember we were all to meet
On such a morning as this sure will be
And hear thee tell thy story of the Lord's
Victorious resurrection from the dead
Just then when day is glorying over night."
Those women with each other communing so,
The morning hastened, and—now nigh to break
Full splendor but with brilliance soft and chaste
Over the welcoming world both land and sea—
Mary and Ruth, with Rachel at the sign
Awakening and Eunicé fresh as dawn,
Heard from without a matin signal sound
Blown with the breath of Stephen on his reed—
Token of tryst by all well understood,
While secretly entrusted with a thrill
To one heart that the others knew not of.