XIV

“Unblemished,” answered she again,
“Without a spot of black or gray,
With honour may I this maintain;
But ‘peerless Queen’ I did not say. 
Brides of the Lamb in bliss we reign,
An hundred and forty thousand gay,
As in the Apocalypse is made plain,
Saint John beheld them on a day;
On the hill of Zion he saw them stay,
In vision his spirit looked on them,
For the wedding clad in bright-array,
At the city of New Jerusalem.”

“Of Jerusalem in speech I tell;
And what He is if thou wouldst see—­
My Lamb, my Lord, my dear Jewel,
My Joy, my Love, my Bliss so free,—­
The prophet Isaiah writeth well
Of His most mild humility: 
’Guiltless, when men upon Him fell
For never a fault nor felony,
As a sheep to the slaughter led was He;
Quiet, the while the crowd contemn,
As a lamb in the shearer’s hands might be,
He was judged by Jews in Jerusalem.’”

“In Jerusalem was my Lover slain,
Rent on the rood by ruffians bold;
To bear our ills He was full fain,
To suffer our sorrows manifold;
Buffeted until blood did stain
That face so lovely to behold;
He took upon Him all sin and pain,
Even He of Whom not one sin is told;
On the rude cross stretched faint and cold,
He let men deride him and condemn;
Meek as a lamb, betrayed and sold,
He died for us in Jerusalem.”

“At Jerusalem, Jordan and Galilee,
Wherever Saint John came to baptize,
His words with Isaiah’s words agree. 
On Jesus he lifted up his eyes,
Speaking of Him this prophecy: 
‘Behold the Lamb of God!’ he cries: 
’Who bears the world’s sins, this is He! 
The guilt of all upon Him lies,
Though He wrought evil in no wise. 
The branches springing from that stem
Who can recount?  ’T is He who dies
For our sake in Jerusalem.’”

“In Jerusalem my Lover sweet
Twice as a lamb did thus appear,
Even as the prophets both repeat,
So meek the mien that He did wear;
The third time also, as is meet,
In the Revelation is written clear. 
Reading a book on His high seat
Midmost the throne that saints ensphere,
The Apostle John beheld Him near;
That book seven sacred seals begem;
And at that sight all folk felt fear
In hell, in earth and Jerusalem.”

XV

This Jerusalem Lamb had never stain
Of other hue than perfect white,
That showeth neither streak nor strain
Of soil, but is like wool to sight;
And souls that free of sin remain
The Lamb receiveth with delight;
And, though each day a group we gain,
There comes no strife for room nor right,
Nor rivalry our bliss to blight. 
The more the merrier, I profess. 
In company our love grows bright,
In honour more and never less.