Midnight on the Prato-Fiorito.
139
Upon the sea of Heaven above us spread
The stars, like golden barks,—their wondrous tale
Still sung, as on their heavenly mission sped—
They beamed on mountains, glisten'd on the vale.
The stars, like golden barks,—their wondrous tale
Still sung, as on their heavenly mission sped—
They beamed on mountains, glisten'd on the vale.
Great Jove with "Medicean stars" in train,
With golden shield, and arrows tipped for flight,
Transfixed the night to mocking day, and fain
Startled the darkness into laughs of light.
With golden shield, and arrows tipped for flight,
Transfixed the night to mocking day, and fain
Startled the darkness into laughs of light.
"And dark Orion turning the shadow of death"
Into the pearly colours of the morning,
And lo! the seven stars of Pleiad's wreath
Scatter'd her blossoms, all our way adorning.
Into the pearly colours of the morning,
And lo! the seven stars of Pleiad's wreath
Scatter'd her blossoms, all our way adorning.
Through the midnight we wandered till grey morn
Opened the orient gates,—and feeble and faint
Came the soft breathings of a day new born—
Breezes Auroral, like prayers of a Saint.
Opened the orient gates,—and feeble and faint
Came the soft breathings of a day new born—
Breezes Auroral, like prayers of a Saint.
The clouds on the far mountain tops away,
Like billows broke in the warm day-light's glow,
A sea fantastic, scattering silver spray,
To fall in cool drops to the glades below.
Like billows broke in the warm day-light's glow,
A sea fantastic, scattering silver spray,
To fall in cool drops to the glades below.
