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THE SETTING SUN.
As I gained the green hill-top, the day was expiring,
And Nature seemed lulling her children to rest;
The landscape was hushed, and the sun was retiring,
With brightness serene, to his bed in the west.
'T was a scene, and a moment, for mute contemplation;
This life's weary day-race so soon may be run!
And there I sat down, rapt in calm meditation,
Revolving the hour of my own setting sun.
And Nature seemed lulling her children to rest;
The landscape was hushed, and the sun was retiring,
With brightness serene, to his bed in the west.
'T was a scene, and a moment, for mute contemplation;
This life's weary day-race so soon may be run!
And there I sat down, rapt in calm meditation,
Revolving the hour of my own setting sun.
Methought, I from this a monition may borrow,
Since all is so transient and vision-like here;
And I, with the flight of the quick-coming morrow,
May see my own twilight and night-shades appear!
Lest such be my time, come, O Spirit, and aid me
To finish the work I have hardly begun;
Nor then let a truth-speaking conscience upbraid me,
To curtain with darkness my day's setting sun.
Since all is so transient and vision-like here;
And I, with the flight of the quick-coming morrow,
May see my own twilight and night-shades appear!
Lest such be my time, come, O Spirit, and aid me
To finish the work I have hardly begun;
Nor then let a truth-speaking conscience upbraid me,
To curtain with darkness my day's setting sun.
When I'm called to go down, where the stone and the willow
Stand watching the sleepers, with silent survey;
May Faith's holy day-star beam o'er my last pillow,
As time's fading light wanes for ever away!
When I've closed my dim eyes, may I joyful awaken,
To wear a bright crown by my “Advocate” won;
I'll no more wish to see the dark world I 've forsaken
For day without cloud, and a ne'er-setting Sun!
Stand watching the sleepers, with silent survey;
May Faith's holy day-star beam o'er my last pillow,
As time's fading light wanes for ever away!
When I've closed my dim eyes, may I joyful awaken,
To wear a bright crown by my “Advocate” won;
I'll no more wish to see the dark world I 've forsaken
For day without cloud, and a ne'er-setting Sun!
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