Poems By the Rev. James Hurdis ... In Three Volumes |
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| IX. | IX. ADDRESS TO THE MOON. |
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IX. ADDRESS TO THE MOON.
Replenish'd moon, whose unobstructed beam
Once more upon the windows of my cot
Shines with such sweet indulgence, welcome still.
I bid thee welcome with a cheerful heart,
Which loves thy gentle mitigated ray,
And the sweet smile of mute benevolence
Which glows upon thy brow—whether thy orb
Rise in the tranquil hour, and climb in peace
The azure concave of unclouded heav'n,
Or leave its couch to cross a stormy sky,
And post triumphantly from cloud to cloud—
Or whether thy pure beam shed second day
Upon a frosty scene of hills and dales
Cover'd with winter's snow, or dimly rise
From autumn's purple east with aspect streak'd,
Tawny, and slowly bright'ning, as subsides
The ray of mellow ev'ning in the west—
Yes, I still love thee, and thy rising hail
With all the little music which the lyre
Struck by my hand can utter.
Once more upon the windows of my cot
Shines with such sweet indulgence, welcome still.
I bid thee welcome with a cheerful heart,
Which loves thy gentle mitigated ray,
And the sweet smile of mute benevolence
Which glows upon thy brow—whether thy orb
Rise in the tranquil hour, and climb in peace
The azure concave of unclouded heav'n,
Or leave its couch to cross a stormy sky,
And post triumphantly from cloud to cloud—
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Upon a frosty scene of hills and dales
Cover'd with winter's snow, or dimly rise
From autumn's purple east with aspect streak'd,
Tawny, and slowly bright'ning, as subsides
The ray of mellow ev'ning in the west—
Yes, I still love thee, and thy rising hail
With all the little music which the lyre
Struck by my hand can utter.
Yet, fair moon,
Much as I love thee, let me wish thee gone.
Empty thy golden globe. Reverse thy horns,
Swiftly renewing till thy ample orb
Once more arrive at her full-lumin'd hour.
For know, unwearied empress of the night,
Soon as thy lamp industrious shall have run
Its phasy circuit round the tardy earth,
So soon I meet the fair one I adore,
My promise-bound companion in the dance.
Then, cheerful orb, I shall not look on thee.
Fair as thou art, a fairer still than thou
Will all my tendance win. Sweet is thy smile,
But sweeter her's. For as thy beauteous light
O'ercomes the feebler glories of the sky,
So will her fair appearance thy poor ray
With ease subdue, and make it pale and faint
As at the dawn of all-eclipsing day.
Much as I love thee, let me wish thee gone.
Empty thy golden globe. Reverse thy horns,
Swiftly renewing till thy ample orb
Once more arrive at her full-lumin'd hour.
For know, unwearied empress of the night,
Soon as thy lamp industrious shall have run
Its phasy circuit round the tardy earth,
So soon I meet the fair one I adore,
My promise-bound companion in the dance.
Then, cheerful orb, I shall not look on thee.
Fair as thou art, a fairer still than thou
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But sweeter her's. For as thy beauteous light
O'ercomes the feebler glories of the sky,
So will her fair appearance thy poor ray
With ease subdue, and make it pale and faint
As at the dawn of all-eclipsing day.
| Poems | |