y to receive
Glory and honour, majesty and might! 280
Thou hast created all things; and for thee
They are and were created!

VOICE.

Oh that earth
Might answer their glad voices! Oh that earth
Might listen and repeat! What more?

JOHN.

I see,
In His right hand who sitteth on the throne,
A book; without, within darkly inscribed,
Having seven seals. Now, a strong angel cries,
With a loud voice, What man is worthy found 290
To loose the seals, and open that dark book![128]

VOICE.

Ah! no one, in the heaven or on the earth,
May open that same book, or look thereon!
Why dost thou weep?

JOHN.

I weep because no man
Is worthy found to open, or to read,
Or look upon that book. I weep for this.[129]

VOICE.

Weep not; but say what follows. 298

JOHN.

Lo! a Lamb,
As it were slain--it hath seven horns and eyes.
He takes the book from the right hand of Him
Who sitteth on the throne!

VOICE.

What follows? mark!

JOHN.

The elders and the mighty cherubims
Fall down before the Lamb, the Lamb of God,
With solemn harps, and golden vials full
Of odours.

VOICE.

These are prayers of saints on earth:
They sing a new song to the Lamb!

JOHN.

And shout: 310
Thou only, Lamb of God! art worthy found
To take the book, and ope the seals thereof;
For thou wert slain, thou hast redeemed us
From every tongue and nation upon earth!

VOICE.

Hearest thou aught beside?

JOHN.

I hear the voice, 316
Of shining mighty troops, about the throne,
Angels, and seraphim, and cherubim,
Ten thousand and ten thousand hierarchies,
Lift up their voices:
Worthy is the Lamb,
Slain from the world's foundation, to receive
Riches and wisdom. Blessing, glory, power
Be unto Him that sitteth on the throne,
And to the Lamb, for ever and for ever!
The