The poetical remains of William Sidney Walker ... Edited with a memoir of the author by the Rev. J. Moultrie |
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FRAGMENT,
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 | The poetical remains of William Sidney Walker |  |
39
FRAGMENT,
WRITTEN PARTLY WHILE LISTENING TO MUSIC.
Soul of the Loveliness unseen!
Whose steps are in the ancient sea,
And in the meadow sunny-green,
And in the clouds that change and flee;
Who peoplest barren vacancy
With power, and meaning, and delight;
And, mixing with all things that be,
Dost circle, like a travelling light,
Around the cloudy heaven of this world's glimmering night!
Whose steps are in the ancient sea,
And in the meadow sunny-green,
And in the clouds that change and flee;
Who peoplest barren vacancy
With power, and meaning, and delight;
And, mixing with all things that be,
Dost circle, like a travelling light,
Around the cloudy heaven of this world's glimmering night!
Here too thou walkest, spirit free;
I feel, I know thy secret sign:
Thou in the land of melody
Hast built thyself a kingly shrine,
Through which thy lineaments divine,
In grace and glory, beam and move:
The waves of Music roll and shine
Before thee, where thou bidst them rove,
And waft to human hearts thine embassies of love.
I feel, I know thy secret sign:
Thou in the land of melody
Hast built thyself a kingly shrine,
Through which thy lineaments divine,
In grace and glory, beam and move:
The waves of Music roll and shine
Before thee, where thou bidst them rove,
And waft to human hearts thine embassies of love.
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The waters of that wondrous deep
By thee, as by a God, are driven;
Now flashing 'gainst the foamy steep,
Now rolling, calm as seas at even,
Beneath the vast mysterious heaven:
Swayed by one sightless impulse all,
Still shifting, as thy word is given,
Through glorious rise, or gentle fall,
The hosts of lovely sound fulfil thy sovereign call.
By thee, as by a God, are driven;
Now flashing 'gainst the foamy steep,
Now rolling, calm as seas at even,
Beneath the vast mysterious heaven:
Swayed by one sightless impulse all,
Still shifting, as thy word is given,
Through glorious rise, or gentle fall,
The hosts of lovely sound fulfil thy sovereign call.
Thou beamest, like an inward light,
Through that interminable throng;
From where the organ, in its might,
Down arched roofs sublime and long
Rolls fiercely forth its storm of song;
To where, in some small peaceful home,
A sweet-voiced wife, the evening long,
Sings to her mate, while through the room
The frequent fire-light plays, chequering the gentle gloom.
Through that interminable throng;
From where the organ, in its might,
Down arched roofs sublime and long
Rolls fiercely forth its storm of song;
To where, in some small peaceful home,
A sweet-voiced wife, the evening long,
Sings to her mate, while through the room
The frequent fire-light plays, chequering the gentle gloom.
| The poetical remains of William Sidney Walker | |