The darkling age of forms and shadows endeth.
For He shall claim among the sons of men
His kingdom, drive the usurper to his den,
Baptize His subjects with the Holy Ghost,
And seal them members of His heavenly host:
Unbar tenebrious prisons of the soul,
And set it free from sin's supreme control;
Banish all doubts to everlasting night,
Bring immortality and life to light.

My work is finished; way made for the Word.
Earth trembleth with thine awful tread, O Lord.

My work is finished. Yet ere I depart
Show me Thyself again, and let my heart,
Filled with Thy certainty, question no more,
But Thee incarnate, doubting naught, adore.
The mysteries of prophecy unfold,
Realize prophetic visions seen of old,
And let me understand the mighty plan
Regeneration of degenerate man ;

How Thou wilt raise this people, lift their horn,
And let them be no more the heathen's scorn,
Avenge them of their foes and bring them home,
And safely shelter them from wrath to come.
Mine hour approaches, give me faith in Thee,
And with the Holy Ghost baptize Thou me.
My work is finished; way made for the Word.
I have seen Thy salvation; take me Lord.

Enter Salome.

SALOME.

All hail! good master. From the sentinels

Of fierce intolerance; from my mother's watch
By stealth and unattended have I escaped
To bring thee some refreshment.

JOHN BAPTIST.

Thank thee, child.

I have refreshment that thou know'st not of,
And I am strong in strength sent from on high.
Yet is thy presence balm to the weak parts

Of my humanity.

SALOME.

How went the day?

Laden with tediousness? Did the light hours
Go crouching down beneath a weight of grief
Mournfully lagging?

Nor were there hours.

JOHN BAPTIST.

Nay, the day was not,

Time now, for me, is passed, Save when thou call'st me back to look on it In thee. This is the last. I must go hence.

Where wilt thou go?

Where is thy home?

SALOME.

JOHN BAPTIST.

Unto my dwelling-place.

SALOME.

JOHN BAPTIST.

On earth within the hearts

Of those who follow me.

SALOME.

And hast thou one

Which is not on the earth? Where is it then?

My comprehension cannot grasp thy scope.
Whither wilt go? Thou canst not leave this cell,
Unless the king in justice bid thee forth.

JOHN BAPTIST.

I know thou canst not understand me now;

Thou wilt in time.

But this I plainly say,

Thou shalt not listen to my voice again.

SALOME.

Ah, speak not so; thou art but sad and faint.
Behold what I have brought; refresh thyself-
Nay, take the wine; and see, how rich these figs!
Wilt thou not let their blushing beauty tempt
Thy lips to embrace them? Thou canst not refuse
These flowers. I saw them smiling in their dreams
And caught them ere they waked. With pleading look,
And trembling with affright they gaze at me,

Tears glittering on their cheeks and in their eyes.

They too are sad, for they are captives now.

Take fruit and flowers, and then thou wilt not say
Thy handmaid shall not visit thee again.

JOHN BAPTIST.

My child, I will not eat; but from His throne
Jehovah seeth thine offering, to bless

The heart which prompted it. Yea, I am sad,
My soul is very sorrowful for thee.

SALOME.

For me! Nay, for thyself. A prisoner thou,
I free as air and happy as were these flowers.
But cheer thee. I will try to set thee free.

And thou shalt do it.

JOHN BAPTIST.

SALOME.

Then how I will rejoice!

JOHN BAPTIST.

Nay, thou shalt mourn.

SALOME.

And thou?

JOHN BAPTIST.

I shall rejoice.

At length, thy sorrow shall be turned to joy :
Blessed the sorrowful, they shall be glad,
And they who mourn, they shall be comforted.