 | The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere |  |
NOCTURN HYMN.
Now God suspends its shadowy pall
Above the world, yet still
A steely lustre plays o'er all
With evanescent thrill.
Above the world, yet still
A steely lustre plays o'er all
With evanescent thrill.
Softly, with favouring footstep, press
Among those yielding bowers;
Over the cold dews colourless
Damp leaves and folded flowers.
Among those yielding bowers;
Over the cold dews colourless
Damp leaves and folded flowers.
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Sleep, little birds in bush and brake!
'Tis surely ours to raise
Our hymns ere humbler choirs awake
Their anthem in God's praise.
'Tis surely ours to raise
Our hymns ere humbler choirs awake
Their anthem in God's praise.
The impatient zeal of faithful love
Hath forced us from our bed;
But doubly blest repose will prove
After our service said.
Hath forced us from our bed;
But doubly blest repose will prove
After our service said.
How dim, how still this slumbering wood!
And O how sweetly rise
From clouded boughs and herbs bedewed
Their odours to the skies!
And O how sweetly rise
From clouded boughs and herbs bedewed
Their odours to the skies!
Sweet as that mood of mystery
Where thoughts that hide their hues
And shapes are only noticed by
The fragrance they diffuse.
Where thoughts that hide their hues
And shapes are only noticed by
The fragrance they diffuse.
But hark! o'er all the mountain verge
The night-wind sweeps along;
O haste, and tune its echoing surge
To a prelusive song;
The night-wind sweeps along;
O haste, and tune its echoing surge
To a prelusive song;
A song of thanks and laud to Him
Who makes our labour cease;
Who feeds with love the midnight dim
And hearts devout with peace.
Who makes our labour cease;
Who feeds with love the midnight dim
And hearts devout with peace.
| The Poetical Works of Aubrey De Vere | |