 | Julian Fane, Ad matrem |  |
11
V.
[I dreamed a dream! I stood among the spheres]
I dreamed a dream! I stood among the spheres
Stationed alone upon a flying star;
Seraphic music smote upon my ears,
The planets moved around me, and afar
I saw a sweet Moon, like a lady fair,
Pursue her calm course through the quiet air.
Stationed alone upon a flying star;
Seraphic music smote upon my ears,
The planets moved around me, and afar
I saw a sweet Moon, like a lady fair,
Pursue her calm course through the quiet air.
Quiet! I whirled through heaven, my senses grew
Dim with swift flight of unapproachéd pace,
For that wild orb whereon I stood now flew
Swift as a whirlwind through unbounded space;
Then shocked and, staggering blindly, reeled; then, driven
Fresh with new force, shot fiercely on through heaven!
Dim with swift flight of unapproachéd pace,
For that wild orb whereon I stood now flew
Swift as a whirlwind through unbounded space;
Then shocked and, staggering blindly, reeled; then, driven
Fresh with new force, shot fiercely on through heaven!
12
Wild terror seized upon me, and the fear
Of quick annihilation struck my soul;
No Power I saw, no Hand Divine to steer
The orb that bore me unto any goal,
While systems, suns and stars, that central hung
Poised in mid air, about me orbed and swung!
Of quick annihilation struck my soul;
No Power I saw, no Hand Divine to steer
The orb that bore me unto any goal,
While systems, suns and stars, that central hung
Poised in mid air, about me orbed and swung!
Now on some huge and glowing mass of fire
I drove; I clenched my nerves, I held my breath,
Thinking, with sound of sharp collision dire,
To rush each moment on a shattering death;
But, lo! we swerved, that fiery orb and I,
And unimpeded flashed athwart the sky.
I drove; I clenched my nerves, I held my breath,
Thinking, with sound of sharp collision dire,
To rush each moment on a shattering death;
But, lo! we swerved, that fiery orb and I,
And unimpeded flashed athwart the sky.
Yet ever and anon brief rest I knew;
Some noble Planet circling in her place
We neared—and her unseen attraction drew
My wild orb softly into her embrace;
The charmed star paused and spun—and then became
Still, and poised, steady as an unblown flame.
Some noble Planet circling in her place
We neared—and her unseen attraction drew
My wild orb softly into her embrace;
The charmed star paused and spun—and then became
Still, and poised, steady as an unblown flame.
13
But soon I whirled through heaven as before;
That saving Power had loosed me, and I swept
Again past suns and systems, and once more
That nameless fear o'er all my senses crept,
So that I raved, and, maddened in my place,
Cursed life, and lifeless fell upon my face!
That saving Power had loosed me, and I swept
Again past suns and systems, and once more
That nameless fear o'er all my senses crept,
So that I raved, and, maddened in my place,
Cursed life, and lifeless fell upon my face!
Long time I lay oblivious, but at last
Rising, I felt I rose not to despair,
Wild motion and wild fear alike were passed;
The orb that bore me sailed the tranquil air,
And moved with music, subject unto law,
Near that sweet Moon which erst far off I saw.
Rising, I felt I rose not to despair,
Wild motion and wild fear alike were passed;
The orb that bore me sailed the tranquil air,
And moved with music, subject unto law,
Near that sweet Moon which erst far off I saw.
Spell-bound my charméd orb did gently glide,
And round about its Heavenly Mistress roll,
Now moved more near, now wandered from her side,
But never strayed beyond her mild control;
Touched with her beams of spotless radiance white,
It shone a placid glory through the night!
And round about its Heavenly Mistress roll,
Now moved more near, now wandered from her side,
But never strayed beyond her mild control;
Touched with her beams of spotless radiance white,
It shone a placid glory through the night!
14
Then, with pure joy, I woke! yet waking dozed,
And thought to sail through heaven in a car;
Black clouds were closing round, but ere they closed
I looked once more upon that Moon and Star,
And saw—thy sweet face shining in the one,
And in the other knew thy rescued son!
And thought to sail through heaven in a car;
Black clouds were closing round, but ere they closed
I looked once more upon that Moon and Star,
And saw—thy sweet face shining in the one,
And in the other knew thy rescued son!
Vienna; March 13th, 1853.
| Julian Fane, Ad matrem | |