 | Metrical Effusions |  |
74
TO THE EVENING STAR.
Fair Planet! whose returning beam
Reminds me of departiug day!
At this still hour be thou the theme
Of one short tributary lay.
And while, beneath thy modest ray,
My fancy labours to be blest,
Peace too shall reassume her sway,
Without a rival, in my breast.
Reminds me of departiug day!
At this still hour be thou the theme
Of one short tributary lay.
And while, beneath thy modest ray,
My fancy labours to be blest,
Peace too shall reassume her sway,
Without a rival, in my breast.
75
Sweet star of eve! thy milder light
To me imparts a purer joy
Than all the sun's effulgence bright,
That only dazzles to destroy
The work of peace, and find employ
For all the cares that gender strife:
With thee I taste without alloy
The silent luxury of life.
To me imparts a purer joy
Than all the sun's effulgence bright,
That only dazzles to destroy
The work of peace, and find employ
For all the cares that gender strife:
With thee I taste without alloy
The silent luxury of life.
Though of the shameless Paphian Queen
Thou bearest the polluted name,
And though thy rising light is seen,
As if from ocean's bed it came,
Yet not from fiction, nor from fame,
Dost thou like her derive thy birth;
But early shone thy lambent flame,
When God created heaven and earth.
Thou bearest the polluted name,
And though thy rising light is seen,
As if from ocean's bed it came,
Yet not from fiction, nor from fame,
Dost thou like her derive thy birth;
But early shone thy lambent flame,
When God created heaven and earth.
76
Hail! lovely harbinger of eve!
'Tis thine, at twilight's hour serene,
When sultry Phœbus takes his leave,
To usher in the glorious scene:
Fair Cynthia, night's resplendent queen,
In full orb'd glory greets the sight;
And countless stars, with twinkling sheen,
Surround the majesty of night.
'Tis thine, at twilight's hour serene,
When sultry Phœbus takes his leave,
To usher in the glorious scene:
Fair Cynthia, night's resplendent queen,
In full orb'd glory greets the sight;
And countless stars, with twinkling sheen,
Surround the majesty of night.
Is there whose torpid heart unmov'd,
Can on the beauteous prospect dwell?
Who loving none, by none belov'd,
Ne'er felt the bliss he could not tell?
“If such there breathe, go, mark him well!”
He ne'er shall taste those pleasing charms,
The joys, the trembling hopes, that swell
The breast which generous feeling warms.
Can on the beauteous prospect dwell?
Who loving none, by none belov'd,
Ne'er felt the bliss he could not tell?
“If such there breathe, go, mark him well!”
He ne'er shall taste those pleasing charms,
The joys, the trembling hopes, that swell
The breast which generous feeling warms.
77
Bright star, adieu! this artless song,
Address'd to thee, by thee inspir'd,
As time's swift stream shall roll along,
Must soon decay; but thou, untir'd,
With undiminish'd splendour fir'd,
Shalt cheer the lingering hours of night;
From age to age by all admir'd,
A source of pure, of calm delight!
Address'd to thee, by thee inspir'd,
As time's swift stream shall roll along,
Must soon decay; but thou, untir'd,
With undiminish'd splendour fir'd,
Shalt cheer the lingering hours of night;
From age to age by all admir'd,
A source of pure, of calm delight!
| Metrical Effusions | |