Stories that might be true With other poems: By Dora Greenwell |
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THE ILLUMINATED CITY.
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 | Stories that might be true |  |
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THE ILLUMINATED CITY.
SUGGESTED BY A NIGHT PICTURE OF VENICE.
Like some proud Sea-Bird, cast
In sleep on Ocean's breast;
The City sinks at last
In calm, majestic rest.
In sleep on Ocean's breast;
The City sinks at last
In calm, majestic rest.
Her temples and her towers,
In floating splendour show,
Like wave-spread water-flowers,
Deep rooted far below;
In floating splendour show,
Like wave-spread water-flowers,
Deep rooted far below;
And broad and fair the while
She sleeps, a softer Day
Streams round her with the smile
That glorifies decay,
She sleeps, a softer Day
Streams round her with the smile
That glorifies decay,
And falls in veils of light
About her, as she seems
To lie in slumbers bright,
And broken by sweet dreams.
About her, as she seems
To lie in slumbers bright,
And broken by sweet dreams.
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For now with sudden flash,
Swift meteors start to life;
And mingling with the dash
Of waves in softest strife,
Swift meteors start to life;
And mingling with the dash
Of waves in softest strife,
A quick and hurrying sound
Floats down the watery street,
The Ghittern's chords rebound—
The dancers' flying feet—
Floats down the watery street,
The Ghittern's chords rebound—
The dancers' flying feet—
A broad and crimson stain
Lies on the waters, flung
Through many a gleaming pane,
With gorgeous draperies hung;
Lies on the waters, flung
Through many a gleaming pane,
With gorgeous draperies hung;
And o'er the level tide,
Like flick'ring Marsh-lights now
The dark Gondolas glide,
Bright lamps at every prow;
Like flick'ring Marsh-lights now
The dark Gondolas glide,
Bright lamps at every prow;
Each temple wears a crown,
A glittering crest of fire,
As if the stars came down
To rest on dome and spire:
A glittering crest of fire,
As if the stars came down
To rest on dome and spire:
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Once more the City seems
Adorned to wed the Deep,
Queen of a World of Dreams
The radiant Bride of Sleep!
Adorned to wed the Deep,
Queen of a World of Dreams
The radiant Bride of Sleep!
And like a quiet eye
That keeps a watch of love,
The Moon looks silently
Upon her from above;
That keeps a watch of love,
The Moon looks silently
Upon her from above;
With lights beneath that rise,
And glitter and expire,
Unmingling—through the skies
She bears her vestal fire.
And glitter and expire,
Unmingling—through the skies
She bears her vestal fire.
No part hast Thou among
The festal glare of mirth,
Thou Watcher that so long
Hast kept the track of Earth!
The festal glare of mirth,
Thou Watcher that so long
Hast kept the track of Earth!
Since first its shadow swept
Betwixt thee and thy sun,
Thy smile the trace hath kept
Of what it looks upon;
Betwixt thee and thy sun,
Thy smile the trace hath kept
Of what it looks upon;
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Of tears that fell of yore,
That fall beneath thy ray,
Till One for evermore,
Shall wipe them all away;
That fall beneath thy ray,
Till One for evermore,
Shall wipe them all away;
Of Cares that will not sleep;
Of pangs that will not cease
Until a spell more deep,
Shall soothe them all to peace.
Of pangs that will not cease
Until a spell more deep,
Shall soothe them all to peace.
Thy Lamp that on the waves
Sheds now so soft a ray,
Lights mourners to the graves
Of joys long past away;
Sheds now so soft a ray,
Lights mourners to the graves
Of joys long past away;
To Vigils of regret,
No eye but thine may see;
To sterner Vigils yet,
When Conscience wakes with Thee!
No eye but thine may see;
To sterner Vigils yet,
When Conscience wakes with Thee!
So, on the lights that rise,
Upon the lights that die,
Thou gazest from the skies
With sad, unchanging eye:
Upon the lights that die,
Thou gazest from the skies
With sad, unchanging eye:
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Thy equal splendours fall
Upon Earth's troubled breast,
As fain to fling o'er all
The mantle of Heaven's rest.
Upon Earth's troubled breast,
As fain to fling o'er all
The mantle of Heaven's rest.
Thus Spirits blest, set free
From all our fevered lot,
May follow it like Thee,
May watch, yet mingle not!
From all our fevered lot,
May follow it like Thee,
May watch, yet mingle not!
May shed upon our way,
Through all the clouds between,
A soft and guiding ray
From Angel-eyes unseen;
Through all the clouds between,
A soft and guiding ray
From Angel-eyes unseen;
May look upon our Earth,
As Thou dost watch above,
Look on our sadness, on our mirth,
In Pity and in Love!
As Thou dost watch above,
Look on our sadness, on our mirth,
In Pity and in Love!
| Stories that might be true | |