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 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
401
XVIII. GALATEA AND URANIA; OR, ART AND FAITH.
‘Dread Venerable Goddess, whom I fear,Gaze not upon me from thy starry height!
I fear thy levelled shafts of ruthless light,
Thine unfamiliar radiance and severe:
Thy sceptre bends not! stern, defined, and clear
Thy Laws: thy face intolerantly bright:
Thine is the empire of the Ruled and Right:
Never hadst thou a part in smile or tear!
I love the curving of the wind-arched billow;
The dying flute tone, sweeter for its dying:
To me less dear the Pine tree than the Willow,
The mountain than the shadows o'er it flying.’
Thus Galatea sang, whilst o'er the waters
Urania leant; and cowered 'mid Ocean's foam-white daughters.
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |