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7.

 

S. STEPHEN’S DEATH

 

“HE FELL ASLEEP.” –– ACTS VII, 60.

 

            HE fell asleep, –– pillowed upon the stones

            That wrought his death; his yellow clust’ring hair

            Fell backward from his blood-stained brows, and seemed

            A golden circlet, like a glory set

            Around his angel face, where grace divine

            Had stamped its wondrous signet. So he lay

            And fell asleep, his hands yet clasped in prayer

            Upon his white-robed breast, now calm and still

            As the fair sculptured marble that is seen

            Above the tomb of some departed saint.

            So Stephen slept, with pale unclosed lips,

            Whence his pure soul had winged itself away

            In pray’rful accents; while from his bruised head

            The crimson drops burst forth like ruby gems,

            And glittered on his brow, until they seemed

            An earnest of his own celestial crown.

 

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            He fell asleep; –– no more of pain and sin,

            Nor grief, nor doubt, to cloud his heavenward path,

            Nor heartsick longing for repose and rest,

            Nor persecution, nor the martyr’s pangs.

            All these for him were past, and in their stead

            The fadeless wreath, the victor’s palm he bore,

            And all the bitterness of death forgot,

            In the strange sweetness of a life renewed

            With holiness and everlasting love!

 

            He fell asleep; –– he closed his weary eyes

            On human faces fraught with rage and sin

            And mad revengeful hate; –– he shut his ears

            To voices harsh with discord and with strife

            And clamorous anger, calling for his death.

            And so he slept; –– and in that sleep he passed

            From death to Life, –– from sights and sounds of woe

            To heavenly glory, –– from the frowns of men

            To the bright radiance of his Master’s smile,

            And tones of happy welcome; –– for he fell

            Asleep on earth, and woke in Paradise!

 

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