The Stolen Sunbeam.
The stars of the earth at its bidding stoop;
Awed by its menace, life-roses droop;
And the fairest blossoms that earth can twine
Fade near the taper that lights the mine.
Awed by its menace, life-roses droop;
And the fairest blossoms that earth can twine
Fade near the taper that lights the mine.
The Fallen looked on the world and sneered:
"I guess," he muttered,"why God is feared;
"For eyes of mortals are fain to shun
"The midnight heaven, that hath no sun.
"I will stand on the height of the hills and wait
"Where the day goes out at the western gate,
"And reaching up to its crown will tear
"From its plumes of glory the brightest there;
"With the stolen ray I will light the sod,
"And turn the eyes of the world from God."
"I guess," he muttered,"why God is feared;
"For eyes of mortals are fain to shun
"The midnight heaven, that hath no sun.
"I will stand on the height of the hills and wait
"Where the day goes out at the western gate,
"And reaching up to its crown will tear
"From its plumes of glory the brightest there;
"With the stolen ray I will light the sod,
"And turn the eyes of the world from God."
He stood on the height when the sun went down—
He tore one plume from the day's bright crown;
The proud orb stooped till he touched its brow,
And the marks of that touch are on it now,
And the flush of its anger forever more
Burns red when it passes the western door!
The broken feather above him whirled,
In flames of torture around him curled,
And he dashed it down from the snowy height
In broken masses of quivering light.
He tore one plume from the day's bright crown;
The proud orb stooped till he touched its brow,
And the marks of that touch are on it now,
And the flush of its anger forever more
Burns red when it passes the western door!
The broken feather above him whirled,
In flames of torture around him curled,
And he dashed it down from the snowy height
In broken masses of quivering light.
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