 | Hours at Naples, and Other Poems |  |
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LINES.
[Ye bright, bright Stars that bind the brow of Night]
Ye bright, bright Stars that bind the brow of NightAs with a Victory-wreath of fulgent light;
Ye full-blown Splendours of the Eternal Skies,
Pure, meek, divine Infallibilities,
That fall not—fail not—nor can miss their way,
That know not what it is to go astray.
Of the Sky-ocean Music-murmuring Shells,
Wherein deep harmony's own Spirit dwells;
Ye worlds of immortality sublime,
Our worn affections from the wastes of time,
Still do ye deeply and serenely draw,
And fill with admiration's richest awe—
Proud truths in glorious characters ye trace,
And on an ample page—the unbounded Space;
Unstained and inneffaceable they are,
Those Heavenly Histories stamped on every Star;—
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And steep our Souls in floods of living light!
Oh! let us list to each high starry song,
So shall we faint not on our journeyings long,
Our journeyings long and steep, nor miss our way,
Lit step by step by an immortal ray.
Heaven-kindled-knowledge-kindling Stars of Night,
Ye flood our souls with thoughts of strength and light,
And still we hail when Heaven's Night Scene is fair,
A Wilderness of worlds and wonders there,
Ye glorious worlds that shine in pride and power,
Ye make the noon of night, Earth's most imperial hour!—
Ye bright divine Infallibilities—
Still teach us, guide us, prompt us from the skies!
| Hours at Naples, and Other Poems | |