Classic Poem

In a dream of late I dreamed
That I walked abroad in heaven,
Walked with thee—for heaven without thee
Were a hell and not a heaven.

There I saw the just, the chosen,
Saw the good men and the righteous,
Such as mortified their bodies
To insure their souls' salvation!

Early Fathers and Apostles,
Hooded friars, hermits holy;
Queer old fellows, young ones also—
Young ones uglier than the old ones!

Long and pious were their faces,
Broad their tonsures, grey their beards
(For some Jews were of the number),
And they passed us frowning sternly;

Passed without so much as glancing,
Though so fond, my lovely sweetheart,
Thou wert hanging on my arm,
Flirting, laughing, and coquetting.

There was only one among them
Who regarded thee with favour:
Only one, the only fair one,
And his face was very noble.

On his lips was human kindness,
Peace divine was in his eye;
As upon the Magdalene once,
So he gazed on thee in pity.

Ah! I know that well he meant it:
There is none so pure and holy—
Yet my heart was sorely troubled,
With a jealous pang was smitten—

And alas! I must confess
That in heaven I grew uneasy;
Incommoded, God forgive me!
By our Saviour, Jesus Christ.