University of Virginia Library

“They are all up — the innumerable stars —
And hold their place in Heaven. My eyes have been
Searching the pearly depths through which they spring
Like beautiful creations, till I feel
As if it were a new and perfect world,
Waiting in silence for the word of God
To breathe it into motion. There they stand,
Shining in order, like a living hymn
Written in light, awaking at the breath
Of the celestial dawn, and praising Him
Who made them, with the harmony of spheres.
I would I had an angel's ear to list
That melody. I would that I might float
Up in that boundless element, and feel
Its ravishing vibrations, like the pulse
Beating in Heaven! My spirit is athirst
For music — rarer music! I would bathe
My soul in a serener atmosphere
Than this; I long to mingle with the flock
Led by the `living waters,' and to stray
In the `green pastures' of the better land!
When wilt thou break dull fetter! When shall I
Gather my wings, and like a rushing thought
Stretch onward, star by star, up into Heaven!”
Thus mused Alethe. She was one to whom
Life had been like the witching of a dream,
Of an untroubled sweetness. She was born
Of a high race, and lay upon the knee,
With her soft eyes perusing listlessly
The fretted roof, or, on Mosaic floors,
Grasped at the tesselated squares inwrought
With metals curiously. Her childhood passed
Like faery — amid fountains and green haunts —
Trying her little feet upon a lawn
Of velvet evenness, and hiding flowers
In her sweet breast, as if it were a fair
And pearly altar to crush incense on.
Her youth — oh! that was queenly! She was like
A dream of poetry that may not be
Written or told — exceeding beautiful!
And so came worshippers; and rank bowed down
And breathed upon her heart strings with the breath
Of pride, and bound her forehead gorgeously
With dazzling scorn, and gave unto her step
A majesty as if she trod the sea,
And the proud waves, unbidden, lifted her!
And so she grew to woman — her mere look
Strong as a monarch's signet, and her hand
The ambition of a kingdom. From all this
Turned her high heart away! She had a mind,
Deep, and immortal, and it would not feed
On pageantry. She thirsted for a spring

Of a serener element, and drank
Philosophy, and for a little while
She was allayed, — till, presently, it turned
Bitter within her, and her spirit grew
Faint for undying waters.. Then she came
To the pure fount of God, and is athirst
No more — save when the fever of the world
Falleth upon her, she will go, sometimes,
Out in the star-light quietness, and breathe
A holy aspiration after Heaven.