Song of Angels, Joy of the Blest

There is song of angels, joy of the blest; there is the dear presence of the Lord, brighter than the sun unto the blessed; there is the love of dear ones; life without death; a joyous multitude of men; youth without age; the glory of the heavenly hosts; health without pain; rest without toil for the workers of righteousness; bliss of the happy; day without darkness, bright and gladsome; happiness without sorrow; harmony without strife ’twixt friends rejoicing in heaven; peace without enmity in the congregation of the saints. No hunger shall be there, nor thirst, nor sleep, nor sore disease, nor scorching of the sun, nor cold, nor care; but there the company of the blest, most radiant of hosts, shall for ay enjoy the grace of their King and glory with their Lord.*

From ‘Christ’ by Cynewulf (fl. ?800), as translated in ‘Select Translations from Old English Poetry’ (1902), by Albert S. Cook and Chauncey B. Tinker.

* Much of this passage relies on Revelation 21:2-4: “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” See also Run for Glory by St Bede (?672-735).

Précis
Drawing on John’s Revelation, Cynewulf reminds us that the New Creation will be free from all pain and evil, that there will be no hunger or thirst, no ageing and no strife, just the endless enjoyment of gentle day and of the presence of God among those most dear to us.
Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

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