Caeli Enarrant

Oh I marvellous the skies Ere sunset close Its rich, enormous rose, Or dawn, too late, Seem a supernal gate That opens into midmost Paradise ! And yet more fair and strange The silent dome Of midnight's vigilled home, Where star and star The silent sentries arc Of ramparts built beyond the reach of change. A thousand years from hence Could I again Within the House of Pain Stand forth and see, Their solemn legionry Were stationed in the Vast's circumference. In governed ranks unstirred Shall they abide, In panoply and pride Of guarding flame— The watchword still the same And changeless still their battle-song unheard. But man flow changed, I dream! At last, at last, Made wiser by the past, Shall not he cease From deeds that mar his peace, And human Brotherhood be found supreme? Shall not the nations laugh, And in their joy War's crimson fane destroy, And love assoil The darker stains of toil- Burning dead laws and sophistries like chaff ? Oh! by the years made wise, Joy man forego Joy from his brother's woe, Till o'er the mirth Of our transfigured earth The stars shall beam as once o'er Paradise !