The heart would wander through the world
Till canker care decayed it,
And gloomier than this world itself,
Ere God in light arrayed it.
Till canker care decayed it,
And gloomier than this world itself,
Ere God in light arrayed it.
So gloomy that terrestrial man
Would loath the earth he cherished,
And God himself would abdicate
A heaven where love had perished.
Would loath the earth he cherished,
And God himself would abdicate
A heaven where love had perished.
XXIV
Fair was the night and transparent,
You might look into heaven’s portals,
And the scent and the song and the murmur,
Enchanted the hearts of mortals.
Fair was the night and transparent,
You might look into heaven’s portals,
And the scent and the song and the murmur,
Enchanted the hearts of mortals.
Alas! that thou wert not beside me
To list, love, beside me staying.
How the oak-leaves whisper together,
And the wind with the woodbine is playing.
To list, love, beside me staying.
How the oak-leaves whisper together,
And the wind with the woodbine is playing.
How the universe is but a song
From the bosom of Nature springing.
And how weak is the echo in human hearts
Of the star music round us ringing.
From the bosom of Nature springing.
And how weak is the echo in human hearts
Of the star music round us ringing.
XXV
Those stars who scattered through the sky
With their own beauty strew it.
Look fondly down as they would fain
Have called me to it.
Those stars who scattered through the sky
With their own beauty strew it.
Look fondly down as they would fain
Have called me to it.
Ah! no ye little twinkling stars
Yours be the circling heaven,
Dearer to me this earth-its joys
And woes—earth’s leaven.
Yours be the circling heaven,
Dearer to me this earth-its joys
And woes—earth’s leaven.
Ye have no notion, loved stars,
Through your chill ether racing.
How fair a heaven unfold’s o’er earth
At love’s embracing.
Through your chill ether racing.
How fair a heaven unfold’s o’er earth
At love’s embracing.
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