534 SUNSET. 



V. 



Here rises a proud palace ; and anon 



The hush'd air trembles, and beneath the shock 



The mighty edifice is fled and gone, 



And tumbles into ruins vast, that block 



The far horizon's edge ; their cones are red, 



And downward hang above the wond'ring head, 



Like mountains overset, in furious strife 



Of hell's foul fiends against the sons of light. 



VI. 



Those clouds of brass, gold, copper, iron, lead, 

 The hurricane's, the lightning's, thunder's lair, 

 Where sleep with hollow murmurs, deep and dread ; 

 The grim destroyers of the earth and air ; 

 'Tis the Almighty that afar on high 

 Hangs them in masses 'gainst the vaulted sky, 

 Like the proud warrior that in feudal halls 

 Hangs his dread arms on his ancestral walls. 



VII. 



Oh ! gaze upon the sky, and when the day 

 Hath closed around, in every clime and hour, 

 Let thy full heart's devotion long delay. 

 Upon the veil that mantles o'er their power 

 There's mystery in its beauty, and the dews 

 Silently dropping from the stars diffuse 

 A holy quiet, a sweet influence, 

 That softens and exalts the purer sense. 



Oh give me wings ! away away 



/'// flee unto those realms divine, 



On earth I can no longer stay, 



No longer fancy and repine; 



Oh ! let me seek another sphere 



Enough of doubt and dreaming here ; 



Enough of striving in the night 



To seize the mysteries of Heav'n, 



To catch the flitting forms of light 



For man's delusion only giv'n. 



Perhaps the voice that strikes my ear 



On high may echo deep and clear ; 



Perhaps I there may find the key 



Of the great mystery concealed 



Beneath the universe, and see 



The secret of the world unveiled. 



Perhaps, to child of song tis giv'n 



To read that other book of Heav'n. 



