XX. The truth was told, the Voice was heard, the mortal oath was sealed: But where was he, who heard that voice, who saw the Dead revealed ? Who ever looked beyond the grave and lived? who ever saw The light again, to tell he dared transgress great Na ture's law? XXI. His record, and confession left, inspired by high com mand, Told that it was a warning traced by life's expiring hand: His corpse was found beside the casement laid; his soul was flown To seek the brother of his love, and share his doom un known! LVII. Lo the Cyclopean walls of Fiesolè! Ruins on which three thousand years have gazed! What are Rome, Greece's olden date to ye? Whose towers, it may be, earthquake shocks have rased, Then, when these hills in fires volcanic blazed: Empires have flourished, fall'n, and, where rose high Their domes, like yon young Florence, sheep have grazed: And then the Stranger comes with pedant eye, Sighs his vain moral there, then-lightly passes by! LVIII. O Nature! mighty mother of us all : Yea, more-sole soother, softener of the heart! Thy own pure calm, eternal as thou art! What holier, wiser thoughts thou dost restore, While from our breasts thou drawest forth the dart Of griefs, whose memories in the crowd flowed o'er; Which, lulled to rest by thee, we marvel that we bore. LIX. Thou glorious Image of Divinity! How our soul's pristine innocence we see Our mortal history in each leaf and tree: Our birth, strength, wane, and fall: and the decree Gently yet sadly told us, our sands run, How soon we must again repose on thee! How we should sport each moment in the sun : Light insects of the hour, ere dream-like life be done! LX. How the Air breathes on me its life unseen! But we love only that which we behold: Earth and the Hosts of Heaven adored have been: Ages, like shadows from the earth, have rolled; Yet is our gratitude to thee untold, Divinest Air! life's sole inspirer thou Thou, that thyself art Space,-and dost enfold As with a mantle the Almighty's brow : Thou Uncreate with God-thou all eternal Now! LXI. First, holiest Element, ethereal Air! Infinite Ocean! that, like feathery spray, Isles, which are Worlds, dost on thy bosom bear; Wasting their rock-ribbed sides in slow decay, Or sweeping them with whirlwind strength away! Thou, whose Voice calls life sleeping into birth, Soft as the sighs of infants when they pray! Thou that giv'st health, strength, joy, all that is worth Existence, while we creep along thy nourished earth. LXII. Yet though invisible, we own thy power; 'Reft of thee for a moment, and we die : Thou breath which wak'st the bud-yet fill'st infinity! LXIII. Thou blessed Air! thou givest welcoming To the wan sickly martyr of decline, Who, drinking thy sweet breath, renews the spring Thou that dost shed the dews from thy pure breast; Thou com'st to infinite life-expected-welcomedblest. LXIV. The agitations of our Life's brief span, The tempest's rage, and wilder wrath of man; How all are lost on the horizon line Of thy illimitable deserts!-there, Where every atom is a starry shrine ! Fountain and Deep! ere time-life-motion-were, Thou wert-alone with God-O thou eternal Air! |