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 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
64
XVI. IDOLATRIA.
The fancy of an age gone by
When Fancy's self to earth declined
Still thirsting for Divinity
Yet still, through sense, to Godhead blind
When Fancy's self to earth declined
Still thirsting for Divinity
Yet still, through sense, to Godhead blind
Poor mimic of that Truth of old
The Patriarchs' Faith—a Faith revealed—
Compressed its God in mortal mould
Poor prisoner of Creation's field.
The Patriarchs' Faith—a Faith revealed—
Compressed its God in mortal mould
Poor prisoner of Creation's field.
Nature and Nature's Lord were one!
Then countless gods from cloud and stream
Glanced forth; from sea, and moon, and sun:
So ran the Pantheistic dream.
Then countless gods from cloud and stream
Glanced forth; from sea, and moon, and sun:
So ran the Pantheistic dream.
And thus the All-Holy, thus the All-True,
The One Supreme, the Good, the Just,
Like mist was scattered, lost like dew,
And vanished in the wayside dust.
The One Supreme, the Good, the Just,
Like mist was scattered, lost like dew,
And vanished in the wayside dust.
Mary! through thee the idols fell:
When He the Nations longed for came—
True God yet Man, with man to dwell,
The phantoms hid their heads for shame.
When He the Nations longed for came—
True God yet Man, with man to dwell,
The phantoms hid their heads for shame.
His place, or thine, removed, ere long
The Bards would push the Sects aside;
And, lifted by the might of song,
Olympus stand re-edified!
The Bards would push the Sects aside;
And, lifted by the might of song,
Olympus stand re-edified!
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |