Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — The Celestial Pilot

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 And when therefrom I had withdrawn a little &nbsp Mine eyes, that I might question my conductor, &nbsp Again I saw it brighter grown and larger.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.