Sonnets written chiefly during a tour through Holland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Hungary. By Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley |
 |
A CLOUD. |
 | Sonnets |  |
205
A CLOUD.
Oft when some gathering storm is driven
Athwart the deep and dreamy night,
A dark cloud comes—to snatch all Heaven,
And all its burning Worlds from sight!
Athwart the deep and dreamy night,
A dark cloud comes—to snatch all Heaven,
And all its burning Worlds from sight!
Creation in that covering cloud,
Awhile might thus seem veiled and furled,
Till like a spectre from a shroud,
Pale starts once more the shuddering world.
Awhile might thus seem veiled and furled,
Till like a spectre from a shroud,
Pale starts once more the shuddering world.
And all the Stars by that were bound,
And all the Skies by that concealed,
'Twas like some mighty tent, built round
The awful armies of Heaven's field!
And all the Skies by that concealed,
'Twas like some mighty tent, built round
The awful armies of Heaven's field!
And yet that cloud was slight and frail,
Which ruled with such all startling sway;
Fluttering and faint that vapoury veil,
Which rapt a thousand Worlds away!
Which ruled with such all startling sway;
Fluttering and faint that vapoury veil,
Which rapt a thousand Worlds away!
206
'Tis but because it spreads so near
Our eyes!—our earth!—it hath such power—
And clothes the Firmaments with fear,
And lords it o'er the trembling hour!
Our eyes!—our earth!—it hath such power—
And clothes the Firmaments with fear,
And lords it o'er the trembling hour!
So with the clouds of mortal Sin!
Once sweeping o'er the mastered Soul—
Dark Empire these too surely win—
And o'er its depths triumphant roll.
Once sweeping o'er the mastered Soul—
Dark Empire these too surely win—
And o'er its depths triumphant roll.
They too—can snatch with conquering might
(Such power to them is darkly given!)
Away at once from Thought and Sight,
All, all the starry worlds of Heaven.
(Such power to them is darkly given!)
Away at once from Thought and Sight,
All, all the starry worlds of Heaven.
Slight Sins can rear a mighty bar
Betwixt our Souls and Worlds above;
'Tis they are near—and Heaven is far—
Between—they all o'ershadowing move!
Betwixt our Souls and Worlds above;
'Tis they are near—and Heaven is far—
Between—they all o'ershadowing move!
Oh! let us clear these clouds away,
Afar be these for ever driven!—
Since in this Night of Nature they
Can shroud from view the Lights of Heaven:
Afar be these for ever driven!—
Since in this Night of Nature they
Can shroud from view the Lights of Heaven:
207
The Lights of Heaven—that brightly shine,
To lead us to our goal above—
To lure us with a glow divine,
To realms of endless Life and Love!
To lead us to our goal above—
To lure us with a glow divine,
To realms of endless Life and Love!
'Tis in this Night of Nature now,
While human things are full of power,
That such vile clouds can sternly grow,
Rulers and Conquerors of the hour!—
While human things are full of power,
That such vile clouds can sternly grow,
Rulers and Conquerors of the hour!—
'Tis in this Night of Nature we
Must seek to clear them hence, and chase,
If we would heirs of Brightness be,
Nor stumble on the appointed race.
Must seek to clear them hence, and chase,
If we would heirs of Brightness be,
Nor stumble on the appointed race.
Sad, sad it were, if wildly driven,
O'er the open space with shadowing might,
Sin's deep cloud came to snatch all Heaven,
And all its glorious worlds from sight!
O'er the open space with shadowing might,
Sin's deep cloud came to snatch all Heaven,
And all its glorious worlds from sight!
| Sonnets | |