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Page 1 of 21898 · PDF PAGE 29
SONNETS TO NIGHT. O NIGHT ! the very mother of us all, For from thy hollow womb we children came, A little space to flicker as a flame, And then within thy tender arms to fall Tired, fain of nothing but to lie at last Upon thy bosom, and gaze in thine eyes Clear, calm, dispassionate, supremely wise, And pass with thee the gates that must be passed. O Night, on thee is set our only hope, Because our eyes, to tender for the day, Are dazed with sunlight, and poor fingers grope For those far truths that mock our vague en- deavour, Whilst we may fin…
1898 · PDF PAGE 99
The very graves yield up their dead, And high thrones shake ; Because my eyes still steadily behold, And dazzle not, nor shun the night, The foam-born lamp of beaten gold And secret might ; Because my forehead bears the sacred name, And my lips bear the brand Of Him whose heaven is one flame, Whose holy hand Gathers this earth, who built the vaults of space, Moulded the stars, and fixed the iron sea, Because His love lights through my face And all of me. Because my hand may fasten on the sword If my heart falter not, and smite Those lampless li…
1898 · PDF PAGE 70
…a land of pleasant things, of woods and streams, Bind my slumber with a chain of pure delight, Though the canker of it stain at death of night, Fill with passion and distaste and wakened pleasure All the moments run to waste that else were treasure ? Who is Love ? a fury red with all men’s blood On his cruel altars shed, a deadly flood ? Or a veiléd vision black with shame and fear, Whose most loathliest attack at night is near, 60
1898 · PDF PAGE 98
And on his feet I knew the sandals were More beautiful than flame, and white, And on the glory of his hair The crown of night. And I beheld his robe, and on its hem Were writ unlawful words to say, Broidered like lilies, with a gem More clear than day. And round him shone so wonderful a light As when on Galilee Jesus once walked, and clove the night And calmed the sea. I scarce could see his features for the fire That dwelt about his brow, Yet, for the whiteness of my own desire, I see him now ; Because my footsteps follow his, and tread The aw…
1898 · PDF PAGE 83
THE STORM. IN the storm that divides the wild night from the passionate kiss of the morning Stands there a tower by the sea unshaken by wave and by wind, Lightning assails, and the sea breaks vain on the battlements, scorning Even to fling back the foam shattered before and behind, Save for one window its height rears up unbroken and blind. Here may a man gaze out to the night by the stars of it stricken, Out to the blind black air that the lightning divides and is dumb ; Here, and look back in the tower where pallid shades murmur and quicken, …
1898 · PDF PAGE 77
…s a bare bleak headland which the sea Incessantly devours, A rock impregnable, where herb and tree Are not. A vision of it came to me In night’s most ghastly hours. I who desire, beyond all named desire, To pass the envious bounds of air and fire, And penetrate the bosom of the night, Saw in a vision such a neophyte Stand on the forehead of the rock ; I saw The armies of unalterable law Shudder within their spheres, as to him came His master’s spirit, like a tongue of flame, To touch his lips and ears and eyes and hands With that pale amber tha…
1898 · PDF PAGE 61
…tic goal Where I may drain a fountain never dry, And of Life’s guerdon gather in the whole, And on celestial manna satisfy my soul. Each night new failure and each day fresh strength, A sense of something nearer day by day ; Though the ill road’s intolerable length, League upon league, fling back the torrid ray Of the fierce sunlight night can scarce allay With the incessant beating of cool wings, And men’s bleached skeletons infest the way, Yet Hope her passion like a flower brings, And Courage ranks me with unconquerable kings. So, in the pow…
1898 · PDF PAGE 18
When he dips down beyond the far flat land, Know never more the day and night apart, Know not where frost has laid his iron hand, Save only that it fastens on my heart ; Save only that it grips with icy fire These veins no fire of hell could satiate ; Save only that it quenches this desire. Let me pass out beyond the city gate. 8
1898 · PDF PAGE 65
A SPRING SNOWSTORM IN WASTDALE. ON rocky mountain bare Of grass, and meadows fair, Angels their trumpets blow upon the night, While o’er the shrinking dale The insatiable gale Roars with unconquered and impassive might. Their robes of snow they rend, And their deep voices blend With tempest, like that angry Amphitrite, His hair blown wild and loose On windy Syracuse, Lashing the waves with words of wrath, a terror of bright light. Here the thick snowflakes fall, Till mountain in their pall, 55
1898 · PDF PAGE 92
Unholy phantom faces (Of self, Of sin ?) Grin wild in all the places Where blood is trodden in : The ground of night enchanted With deadly blooms is planted, Where evil beasts have panted And snakes have shed their skin. With poison steams the air, And evil scent Is potent everywhere ; Creation waits th’ event : In silence, without sighing, The living and the dying, Oppressed and putrefying, Curse earth and firmament. What dreams disturb my slumber, Or what sights seen ? Foul orgies without number In dens and caves obscene, 82
1898 · PDF PAGE 19
…the splendour, The sacred fountain that is whirled From depths beyond that older world A new world to engender. The kingdom is extended. Night Dwells, and I contemplate the sight 9
1898 · PDF PAGE 87
…’s wakening hour I think it has the power To touch the soul of sleep With its tender thought, and bid me to awake for joy—and weep. This night I am earlier, No drowsy thought drew nigh 77
1898 · PDF PAGE 9
….................................................... 9 The Alchemist ..................................................... 12 Sonnets to Night ................................................ 19 The Philosopher’s Progress ................................. 21 Sonnet ............................................................... 26 An Ill Dream ...................................................... 27 The Student ....................................................... 31 The Priest Speaks. (Boccaccio. Day IV. Tale VIII.) 32 Passover ............…
1898 · PDF PAGE 76
…et The glory they have set Before their face, nor loose their hold upon the perfect prize. My hands no longer write : Communion with the night Is built, a bride of fiery truth across the subtle mind. God’s angels, and His fire, Consume the soul’s desire, And strike a lighter lyre. I seek ; the angels lead me on, all light and truth to find. 66
1898 · PDF PAGE 108
BY THE CAM. TWILIGHT is over, and the noon of night Draws to its zenith. and beyond the stream Dance the wild witches that dispel my dream Of gardens naked in Diana’s sight. Foul censers, altars desecrated, blight The corpse-lit river, whose dank vapours teem Heavy and horrible, a deadly steam Of murder’s black intolerable might. The stagnant pools rejoice ; the human feast Revels at height ; the sacrament is come ; God wakes no lightning in the broken East ; His awful thunders listen and are dumb ; Earth gapes not for that sin ; the skies rene…
1898 · PDF PAGE 89
…and wine. Work on, strong mind, devise The outer life aright ; Dream, subtle soul, and arise To noblest litanies That pierce the mask of night— In a man work lifts his eyelids, but his dreams lend eyes their light. So dreams and days are wed, And soul and body lie Ambrosial in Love’s bed. See, heaven with stars is spread— So glad of life am I If an angel came to call me I am sure I would not die. 79
1898 · PDF PAGE 22
…, on a small and rocky islet. In the highest chamber a man of some forty years, but silver-haired, looks out of the window. Clear starry night, no moon. Chamber furnished with books, alchemic instruments, etc. He gazes some minutes, sighs deeply, but at last speaks. Ph. The world moves not. I gaze upon the abyss, Look down into the black unfathomed vault Of Starland and behold—myself. The sea To give a sense of motion or of sound Washes the wall of this grey tower in vain ; 12
1898 · PDF PAGE 88
At eve to make demur That I be minister To Cynthia maidenly : All night I have watched her sail through a black and silver sky. Within my soul there fight Two full and urgent streams, Work’s woe and dream’s delight : Like snow and sun they smite, Days battle hard with dreams : On a world of misty beauty the Aurora clearly beams. So labour fought with pride, And love with idleness, My soul was torn and tried With the impassioned tide Of storm and deathly stress— I had never dreamed a lily should arise amid the press. Yet such a flower sprang her…
1898 · PDF PAGE 97
Of ibex that behold on high Night’s funeral, And see the pale moon quiver and depart Far beyond space, the sun ascend And draw earth’s globe unto his heart To make an end ; The shriek of startled birds ; the sobs that tear With sudden terror the sharp sea That slept, and wove its golden hair Most mournfully ; The rending of the earth at his command Who wields the wrath of heaven, and is dumb ; Hell starts up—and before his hand Is overcome. It heard these voices, and beheld afar These dread works wrought at his behest : And on his forehead, lo …
1898 · PDF PAGE 72
To set snares, by night, and makes afraid The spirits’ holy might with one slight maid Visioned and unsubsisting save in foreign thought, To its own strength a slave by witchcraft brought ! This is not Love but Lust, not Life but Death is found, All the halls of sense with strife cry and resound. The Brain awakes in wrath ; behold ! the foemen flee, All the earth is clad with gold and all the sea ; Driven back the demons yield, falter and cease ; For a little while the shield of sleep is peace. Clear and bright the lamp burns ; clean and sharp …