The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt.2: It is a member of that family

Soul:

It is a member of that family

Of wondrous beings, who, ere the world were made,

Millions of ages back, have stood around

The throne of God.

I will address him,

Mighty One, my Lord,

My Guardian Spirit all hail!

Angel:

All hail, my child!

My child and brother,

Hail! what wouldest thou!

Soul:

I would have nothing but to speak with thee

For speaking's sake. I wish to hold with thee

Conscious communion, though I fain would know

A maze of things, were it but meet to ask,

And not a curiousness.

Angel:

You cannot now

Cherish a wish which ought not to be wished.

Soul:

Then I will speak.

I ever had believed

That on the moment when the struggling soul

Quitted its mortal case, forthwith it fell Under the awful Presence of its God,

There to be judged and sent to its own place.

What lets me now from going to my Lord!

Angel:

Thou art not let but with extremest speed

Art hurrying to the Just and Holy Judge.

Soul:

Dear Angel, say,

Why have I now no fear of meeting Him! Along my earthly life, the thought of death

And judgement was to me most terrible.

Angel:

It is because

Then thou didst fear, that now thou dost not fear,

Thou hast forestalled the agony, and so

For thee the bitterness of death is passed.

Also, because already in thy soul

The judgement is begun.

Angel:

A presage falls upon thee, as a ray

Straight from the Judge, expressive of thy lot.

That calm and joy uprising in thy soul

Is first-fruit to thee of thy recompense, And heaven begun.

Soul:

Now that the hour is come, my fear is fled And at this balance of my destiny,

Now close upon me, I can forward look With a serenest joy.