University of Virginia Library

MOONLIT SCENE.

But that is o'er; and from the shrouding awe
That girds thee, with a gentle force awake.
E'en such a night, as now prepares to reign,
The captive Luther from his watch-tower loved
To witness, when by inward prayer becalm'd,
He roll'd his eye-glance round the vaulted heavens
Studded with stars, like Scripture gemm'd with truths;
And gave his spirit to the charm of night
With all a poet's rapture! Such begins
O'er the lull'd twilight to assert its reign
Of trancèd loveliness, and stellar noon.
Lo! one by one, with timid gleam, and slow,
Star after star comes trembling into life
And lustre; radiant, mild, and mournful oft
Like the half-tears in Childhood's pensive eye,
Faintly they shine; while planets, rich and round,
Like burning jewels dug from mines of light
Flash on the forehead of the mellow'd sky
Most brilliantly; or, cluster'd into groups,
The rest commingle their associate beams
Dazzling the concave. Still, the earth obscured
Lies dimly veil'd, with umbrage unrelieved,
Waiting the lamp which lights her beauties up.
And, yonder comes it! lo, her placid brow
O'er the dusk air yon queenly Moon uplifts;
And e'en as music, solemn, deep and slow,
Through the dark chambers of dejected mind
Where all is shapeless, oft to order cites
Thought after thought, successive and serene,
So her wan lustre, as it mildly steals
O'er the mute landscape, tree, and bough, and bank,
Each out of dimness and disorder draws
To shape and aspect; till the dew-drops gleam
Like Nature's diamonds on her night-garb thrown,
In countless sparkles: all the stars grow pale,
Like mortal graces near th' excessive blaze
Of Thine, Emmanuel! save th' undazzled brows
Of those large planets, eloquent with beams
Unrivall'd. What a witching spell the moon
O'er all things by her fairy radiance flings!
Like faith, arising in some nighted heart
And touching nature with redemption's light
Celestial. Wheresoe'er his roving eye
Darts a pleased glance, lo! hill, and brook and hedge,
Rivers and streams, and meadowy range far-off,
Cities and towers, and tall cathedral-spires,
And village-churchyards with their grassy tombs
Attract the gazer; till his glance is charm'd
With loveliness, beyond the moving lip
To mention. But above, how beautiful!
There, solemnly the climbing moon ascends,
And each thin cloud within her silver reach
She clothes with splendour; like a mortal pang
By hope regen'rate into radiant peace
Transmuted. But in this access divine
Of Nature's sabbath, solitude and night,
How like the fortunes of the Saviour's Bride
The Moon's high progress through the heaven appears!
Varied, and full, now crescent and complete,
Shaded, or dim, and then with radiance clad,
So hath the Church along time's clouded scene
Flourish'd, or faded, shined, or suffer'd gloom,
But yet doth travel through her fated round
Upward to glory! Or, may deeper eyes discern
In yon pale symbol of mysterious sky,
The moon-like radiance of imperfect man
By grace made holy, but how changeful too!
E'en to the last by shades of sin o'erhung
And hidden: while th' imperial Lord of day,
By His prerogative of light portrays
That sun-clear righteousness of state complete,
Which all the justified of God arrays
With faultless glory, fair as Jesus wore.