Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/440

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414

Attained his western bound; but rays of light—
Now suddenly diverging from the orb
Retired behind the mountain tops or veiled
By the dense air—shot upwards to the crown
Of the blue firmament—aloft—and wide:
And multitudes of little floating clouds,
Pierced through their thin etherial mould, ere we,
Who saw, of change were conscious, had become
Vivid as fire—clouds separately poized,
Innumerable multitude of Forms
Scattered through half the circle of the sky;
And giving back, and shedding each on each,
With prodigal communion, the bright hues
Which from the unapparent Fount of glory
They had imbibed, and ceased not to receive.
That which the heavens displayed, the liquid deep
Repeated; but with unity sublime!


While from the grassy mountain's open side
We gazed, in silence hushed, with eyes intent
On the refulgent spectacle—diffused
Through earth, sky, water, and all visible space,
The Priest in holy transport thus exclaimed—