In rich confusion. Now the air is fill'd With thousand odours, sigh'd by blossoms bent In closing beauty, where the dew distill'd From Evening's airy urns their purple lips has chill'd. Twilight has come in saffron mists embower'd, For the broad sun on the Atlantic surge, Now sparkling in the fiery flashes shower'd From his swift wheels-the forest vapours urge Their solemn wings above-white stars emerge From the dark east, like spires of mountain snows Touch'd by the light upon th' horizon's verge; Just rising from her sleep, the young Moon shows, Supine upon the clouds, her cheeks suffused with rose. This is the loveliest hour of all that Day Calls upwards through its kingdom of the air.The sights and sounds of earth have died away; Above, the clouds are roll'd against the glare Of the red west-high volumed waves, that war Against a diamond promontory's side. Crested with one sweet, solitary star, That like a watch-fire trembles o'er the tide, Bright'ning with every shade that on its surge doth ride. CROLY. THE WINTER ROSE. HAIL, and farewell, thou lovely guest, The hues that paint thy glowing vest Like the retiring tints that die It was but now thy radiant smile As, bending, I inhaled a while And traced on every silken leaf The morning sun thy petals hail'd Alas! on thy forsaken stem Has oped some fair and fragrant flower, Like thee, the vision came and went, In momentary pity sent Of fairer climes to tell, So frail its form, so short its stay, That naught the lingering heart could say But, Hail, and Fare thee well! ANON. ON THE STARRY FIRMAMENT. I GAZE upon yon orbs of light The countless stars that gem the sky; Each in its sphere serenely bright, Wheeling its course-how silently! While in the mantle of the night Earth, and its cares and troubles lie. Temple of light and loveliness, What madness from the path of right Awake, ye mortals! raise your eyes With all its hopes and all its fears. Who can look forth upon this blaze Of heavenly lamps, so brightly shining Through the unbounded void of spaceA hand unseen their course assigningAll moving with unequal pace, Yet in harmonious concord joining : Who sees the silver chariot move Of the bright moon; and, gliding slow, Or, where the angry God of War That o'er the gods of old held sway; And calms the heavens beneath his ray: Where Saturn shows his distant beam, Who that hath seen these splendours roll, ANON. HUMAN LIFE. THE lark has sung his carol in the sky; Now, glad at heart, the gossips breathe their prayer, A few short years, and then these sounds shall hail Then the huge ox shall yield the broad sirloin; And soon again shall music swell the breeze; Vestures of nuptial white; and hymns be sung, And violets scatter'd round; and old and young, In every cottage-porch, with garlands green, Stand still to gaze; and, gazing, bless the scene; While, her dark eyes declining, by his side Moves in her virgin-veil the gentle bride. And once, alas! not in a distant hour, Another voice shall come from yonder tower: When in dim chambers long black weeds are seen, And weepings heard where only joy had been; When by his children borne, and from his door Slowly departing, to return no more, He rests in holy earth with them that went before. And such is human life; so gliding on, It glimmers like a meteor, and is gone! ROGERS. TO TWILIGHT. FRIEND of the pensive wand'rer, Twilight, hail! I joy to see thee roll thy sea of clouds Athwart the crimson throne Of the departing sun. For then, what various objects, dimly seen, And urge Fear's hurried step. Lo! thine attendant, the low-sailing bat, To hail thee, pours her strain. I love thy simple garb: no brilliant stars Worn by thy sister Night, Save when she reigns in storms. |