Stanza 23 Summary

Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.

Lines 133-138

She gazed and listen'd and then said,
  Less sad of speech than mild,—
"All this is when he comes." She ceas'd.
  The light thrill'd towards her, fill'd
With angels in strong level flight.
  Her eyes pray'd, and she smil'd

  • The damsel suddenly stops her fantasizing here. She just stares and listens (remember that her attention is still directed over the railing of heaven down to Earth).
  • She also speaks, in a mild voice, saying that her wishes will come true when her lover finally gets to heaven.
  • After she says this, light—which is really flying angels—moves toward her. This is a good thing, as reflected in the choice of verbs here—"thrill'd" (136)—as well as her praying eyes and smile.