Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius, Op. 38, Pt. 2: "It Is a Member of That Family" - "All Hail, My Child and Brother" (Soul, Angel)

It is a member of that family of wondrous Beings who, ere the worlds were Made, millions of ages back, Have stood around The throne of God. I Will address you, Mighty one, my lord, My guardian spirit. All hail. Hail, My child and brother! Hail, thou towardst God! I would have nothing but to speak with thee For speaking's sake. I wish to hold with thee conscious Communion, though I fain would Know arrays of things, were it But meet to ask, and not a Curiousness. You cannot now cherish a Wish which ought not to be Wished. Then I will Speak. I ever had believed That on the moment when the struggling Soul, withered its mortal case, Forthwith it fell Under The awful presence of its God, There to be judged and Sent to its own Place. What lets me now from going To my Lord? Thou art not yet, but with Extremest fear turning To the just and Holy Judge. Dear angel, say, why have I now no Fear at meeting him? All of my earthly life, the thought of Death and judgment was To me most Terrible. It is because then thou Didst fear. But now Thou dost not Fear. Thou hast forestalled the Agony, and So for thee the bitterness of death is Past. Also because already in thy Soul the Judgment Is Begun. A message falls upon Thee As a ray, Straight from the Judge, Expressive of thy Lord's. At calm and joy Uprising in thy soul. How happy are his Feet that stand His at his side Of reverence Earnest Thou My destiny First fruits to Thee of thy labor Think Can but Look But look In The brightest In The