Lines Written At Night

Oh, thou surpassing beauty! that dost live Shrined in yon silent stream of glorious light! Spirit of harmony! that through the vast And cloud-embroidered canopy, art spreading Thy wings, that o’er our shadowy earth hang brooding; Like a pale silver cloud between the moon And the world’s darker orb —beautiful, hail! Hail to thee! from her midnight throne of ether, Night looks upon the slumbering universe. No ruffling breeze stirs the wood’s silver crest, No rocking breath shakes the dew-spangled flower, No rippling wind roughens the sleepy wave, No slightest sound floats on the solemn air; All, all are silent, all are dreaming, all, Save yon eternal eyes, that now shine forth Twinkling the slumberer’s destinies. The moon Sails on the horizon’s verge, a moving glory. Pure and unrivalled; for no paler orb Approaches, to invade the sea of light That spreads around her; save yon piercing star, That glitters on her robe of fleecy clouds, Like a bright gem, fall’n from her radiant brow.