Meter 24

I have feather-wings fleeter than a bird’s,
With which I may fly far from the earth
Over the high roof of the heaven above us ;
But oh! that I might thy mind furnish,
Thy inmost wit, with these my wings,
Until thou mightest on this world of mortals,
On all that there liveth, look down easily !

Then thou mightest mount on pinions
Straight o’er heaven, soaring upwards
Wind through the clouds, and then witness

All from above. Thou couldst also fly
Over the fire that long hath fared,
Many a year, . mid air and heaven,
E’en as the Father at first appointed.
Then couldst thou after the course follow
That the sun taketh ’tween the lights of heaven,
And onward speeding reach the sphere
Far up aloft ; then in order
That star all cold, alone in station,
Which is the highest of heavenly bodies,
By sea-dwellers beneath the sky

Saturn yclept ; cold is that star,
Wholly ice-bound, and highest wand’reth
Over all others up in heaven.
Yea, even then, when thou hast passed
High o’er Saturn, thou mayst still journey,

And then wilt soon be above the sphere
That swiftly turneth ; and if straight thou goest,
Leaving behind thee the highest heaven,
Then may’st thou at last in the true Light
Have thy portion, whence the sole Prince
Above the firmament far sway holdeth,
And also beneath, o’er every creature,
Guiding the world. A wise King He;
’Tis He that controlleth through all countries
All other kings over the world.
He with His bridle hath firmly bound
The whole compass of heaven and earth ;
With His guiding reins well He governeth
And ever steereth with mighty strength
The hastening car of earth and heaven.
He is the only Judge, in justice steadfast,
God unchanging, fair and glorious.
If thou shouldst reach by the right way
Up to that region, . that right noble place,
Though for a time thou hast it forgotten,

Yet if again ever thou thither arrive,
Then wilt thou call out and quickly say :
‘ This, this only is mine own true home,
My land and country ; hence am I come,
Here was created, by the Craftsman’s might.
Hence will I never hie me away,

But pleasantly here it is my purpose,
The Father willing, firmly to stand.’
If to thee after it shall ever befall
That thou wilt, or may’st to this mirky world

Come once more, thou wilt quickly see
That all the unrighteous rulers of earth,
And all the mighty, those men so haughty
That most oppress this weary people,
Are ever themselves utterly wretched,
In all things feeble, failing in might,
Even these proud ones that this poor folk
Now for a season so sorely dreadeth.