Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems By the Lady E. Stuart Wortley. In Three Vols |
 | I, II, III. |
 |
|
SUNSHINE THROUGH FOLIAGE. |
 | Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems |  |
393
SUNSHINE THROUGH FOLIAGE.
Sun! gazing towards thee through these quivering leaves,Whose shadowy green a cloud of beauty weaves,
Thou seem'st unto the dreamy dubious eye
(Uplooking in a trance of phantasy)
A constellation of soft Stars and pale,
Sparkling through that light-waved and trembling veil—
Or of fine fairy lightnings—quick and keen—
But traced imperfectly, and dimly seen!
So dense and deep the curtain interposed
'Twixt us and thee, and round us drawn and closed—
Thus too thou'rt beautiful; but who could dream,
Watching this varying sheen, this softened gleam,
That thou art he who rules in light on high—
Who fires the East with glory dazzlingly!
394
And wraps in splendour all Creation's frame?
Seen through these leaves' wrought shrouds and stems' crossed bars!—
Thou'rt like some constellation of soft Stars!
The Mighty and the Beautiful may be
Despoiled of their most proud transcendancy—
Yet still are Beautiful unto the end!—
Nor with unworthy image deign to blend,
And still are Mighty—nor the bright spell break,
Whatever guise they wear, or form they take—
Thou glorious Sun!—no less canst thou appear
Than constellated Stars—the fair, the clear!
Or sudden flashing lightnings pure and bright—
Bright with the lustres of a lambent light!—
Howe'er thy pomp be 'minished or obscured,
It must endure as it hath still endured!
It still must pomp and still must triumph be,
However different, haply in degree!
| Queen Berengaria's Courtesy, and Other Poems | |