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Episodes before Thirty
frock-coat. It seemed to me that Night herself spoke through him:
Known only, only to God and the night, and the stars and me!
Prophetic, jubilant Song,
Smiting the rock-bound hours till the waters of life flow free;
And a Soul, on pinion strong,
Flieth afar, and hovers over the infinite sea
Of love and of melody:
While the blind fates weave their nets
And the world in sleep forgets.
Prophetic, jubilant Song,
Smiting the rock-bound hours till the waters of life flow free;
And a Soul, on pinion strong,
Flieth afar, and hovers over the infinite sea
Of love and of melody:
While the blind fates weave their nets
And the world in sleep forgets.
Known only, only to me and the night, and the stars and God!
Song, from a burning breast,
Of a land of perfected delights which the foot of man ne'er trod,
Like a foaming wine expressed
From passionate fruits that glowed 'mid the boughs of the Eden lost,
Ere sin was born and frost;—
Song wild with desires and regrets,
While the world in sleep forgets.
Song, from a burning breast,
Of a land of perfected delights which the foot of man ne'er trod,
Like a foaming wine expressed
From passionate fruits that glowed 'mid the boughs of the Eden lost,
Ere sin was born and frost;—
Song wild with desires and regrets,
While the world in sleep forgets.
Known only, only to me and God, and the night and the stars!
The beacon fire of song,
Flaming for guidance and hope while the storm-winds wage their wars;
Balm for the ancient wrong,
Dropping from healing wings on the wounds of the heart and brain,
Quenching their ancient pain:
Love-star that rises and sets,
While the world in sleep forgets.
The beacon fire of song,
Flaming for guidance and hope while the storm-winds wage their wars;
Balm for the ancient wrong,
Dropping from healing wings on the wounds of the heart and brain,
Quenching their ancient pain:
Love-star that rises and sets,
While the world in sleep forgets.
Known only, only to God and me, and the stars and the night!
Dove that returns to my ark,
Murmuring of grief-floods falling, of light beyond all light:
Voice that cleaveth the dark,
Singing of earth growing heaven, of distant lands that bless,
Though they may not caress,
And, blessing, pay Love's old debts,
While the world in sleep forgets.
Dove that returns to my ark,
Murmuring of grief-floods falling, of light beyond all light:
Voice that cleaveth the dark,
Singing of earth growing heaven, of distant lands that bless,
Though they may not caress,
And, blessing, pay Love's old debts,
While the world in sleep forgets.
Long before he ended the tears were coursing slowly down his withered cheeks, and when the last word died away a long silence came between us, for I could find no words to express the emotion in me. He took my hand
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