 | Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights |  |
TO AN ANGEL IN HEAVEN.
“Il vago spirito ardente
E'en alto intelletto, un puro core.”
—Petrarch.
E'en alto intelletto, un puro core.”
—Petrarch.
I worshipped thee, in thy bright perfectness, afar,
As Chaldea's sons the brightest star of even;
And longed, as they, to be with my bright star,
Because, like theirs, thou wert so nigh to Heaven.
As Chaldea's sons the brightest star of even;
And longed, as they, to be with my bright star,
Because, like theirs, thou wert so nigh to Heaven.
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I knew to worship thee was to adore
That Being who had made thee so divine;
And felt my heart grow happier than before,
By only wishing it to be with thine.
That Being who had made thee so divine;
And felt my heart grow happier than before,
By only wishing it to be with thine.
I felt, while gazing on thy beauteous face,
And the calm languor of those dove-like eyes,
And that angelic form of Heavenly grace—
That thou wert sure an angel in disguise.
And the calm languor of those dove-like eyes,
And that angelic form of Heavenly grace—
That thou wert sure an angel in disguise.
I saw my soul to gaze on thee was lost,
Though, in thy presence, it grew more divine;
For, when my spirit wanted thee the most,
I knew, alas! thou never couldst be mine!
Though, in thy presence, it grew more divine;
For, when my spirit wanted thee the most,
I knew, alas! thou never couldst be mine!
And thus, while gazing on thy loveliness,
The night itself grew more like day to me;
For, in thy smiles the earth like earth grew less,
And more like Heaven—when Heaven to Heaven took thee!
The night itself grew more like day to me;
For, in thy smiles the earth like earth grew less,
And more like Heaven—when Heaven to Heaven took thee!
1836.
| Virginalia ; or, songs of my summer nights | |