The Celestial Pilot

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow * Track #313 On The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Celestial Pilot by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The Celestial Pilot Annotated

And now, behold! as at the approach of morning,
&nbsp Through the gross vapors, Mars grows fiery red
&nbsp Down in the west upon the ocean floor
Appeared to me,—may I again behold it!
&nbsp A light along the sea, so swiftly coming,
&nbsp Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled.
And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little
&nbsp Mine eyes, that I might question my conductor,
&nbsp Again I saw it brighter grown and larger.
Thereafter, on all sides of it, appeared
&nbsp I knew not what of white, and underneath,
&nbsp Little by little, there came forth another.
My master yet had uttered not a word,
&nbsp While the first whiteness into wings unfolded;
&nbsp But, when he clearly recognized the pilot,
He cried aloud: "Quick, quick, and bow the knee!
&nbsp Behold the Angel of God! fold up thy hands!
&nbsp Henceforward shalt thou see such officers!
See, how he scorns all human arguments,
&nbsp So that no oar he wants, nor other sail
&nbsp Than his own wings, between so distant shores!
See, how he holds them, pointed straight to heaven,
&nbsp Fanning the air with the eternal pinions,
&nbsp That do not moult themselves like mortal hair!"
And then, as nearer and more near us came
&nbsp The Bird of Heaven, more glorious he appeared,
&nbsp So that the eye could not sustain his presence,
But down I cast it; and he came to shore
&nbsp With a small vessel, gliding swift and light,
&nbsp So that the water swallowed naught thereof.
Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot!
&nbsp Beatitude seemed written in his face!
&nbsp And more than a hundred spirits sat within.
"In exitu Israel de Aegypto!"
&nbsp Thus sang they all together in one voice,
&nbsp With whatso in that Psalm is after written.
Then made he sign of holy rood upon them,
&nbsp Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore,
&nbsp And he departed swiftly as he came.

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