The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-21
THE LEGEND BEAUTIFUL

In his chamber all alone,
Rneelng on the floor of stone,
Prayed the Monk in deep contriton
For his sins of indecision-
PRAYED for greater self-deniiu
In temptation and in trial;
1t was monday by the dial,
And the Monk was all alone
Suddenly, as if il lightened
An unwonted splendor frightened
All within him and without him
In that narrow cell OF stone;
And he saw the Blessed Vision
OF our Lord with light Elysian,
Like n yesture wrapped about hlln
Like garment round him thrown.
Not as crucified and slain,
Not i'm agonies of pain,
Not with bleeding hands and feet,
Did the Monk his Master see;
But as in the village street,
In the house or harvest field,
Halt and lame and blind he healed,
When he walked in Galilee.
In an attitude imploIing,
Hands upon his bosom crossed,
Wondering, worshipping, adoring,
Knelt the Monk in rapture lost,
Lord he thought, in Heaven that reignest,
Who am L, that thus thou deignest
To reveal myself TO me
Who am L, that from the centre
OF thy glory thou shouldst enter
This poor cell, my guest to he
Then amid his exaltation,
Loud the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry calling, calling,
Rang through court and corridor
With persistent iteration
He had never heard before.
II was now tire appointed hour,
When alike, in shine or shower
Winters cold or summers heat,
To the convent portals came,
All the blind and halt and lame,
\ / the beggars of the street,
For their daily dole of food
Dealt them by the brotherhood
And their almoner was he,
Who upon his Bonded knee,
Wrapt in silent ecstacy
OF divinest seltSurrender,
Saw the Vision and the Splendor
Deep distress and hesitation
Mingled with his alteration.
Should he go or should he stay
Should he leave the poor TO wait
Hungry at the convent gate,
Till the vision passed away
Should he slight his heavenly guest,
Slight this yisitant celestial,
For crowd of ragged, bestlal
Beggars at the convent gate
Would the Vision there remain
Would the Vision come again
Then voice within his breast
Whispered, audible and clear
AS if to the outward ear
do thy duty, that is best
Leave unto thy Lord the rest!
s,traightway TO his feet he started,
And with a longing look intent
On the blessed Vision bent,
Slowly from his cell departed,
Slowly on his err;lnd Went
At the gate the poor were waiting,
Looking through the iron grating,
With that terror to the eye
That is only seen in those
Who amid their wants and woes
Hear the sound of doors that close,
And of feet that pass them by;
Grown familiar with disfavor,
Grown familiar with the SAVIOR
OF the bread by which men die
But to-day, they know not why,
Like the gate of Paradise
Seemed the convent gate to rise;
Like n sacrament divine
Seemed to them the bread and wine
In his heart the Monk was praying,
Thinking of the homeless poor
What they suffer and endure;
What we see not, what we see;
And the inward voice was saying
whatsoever thing thou doest
To the least of NINE and lowest
That thou doest unto me y
Unto me but had the Vision
Come to him in beggar's clothing,
Come n meniicant imporing,
Would he then have knelt adoring,
Or have listened with derision,
And have turned away with loathing
Thus his conscience put the question,
Full of troublesome suggestion,
As at length, with hurried pace,
Toward his cell he turned his face,
And behed the convent bright
With supernatural light,
Like q luminous cloud expanding
Over floor and wall and ceiling.
But he paused with awe-struck feeling
Al the threshold of his door,
For the Vision still was standing
As he left it there before,
When the convent bell appalling,
From its belfry, calling calling,
Summoned him to feed the poor.
Through the long hour intervening
1t had waited his return,
And he felt his bosom burn,
Comprehending all the meaning,
When the Blessed Vision said,
' Hadst thou stayed must have fed
-[HENRY W. LoNGFELLow, i'll December Allan