CASTALIAN HOURS. * 73 



Oh would I might my soul unto ye knit 



For aye, and make its essence as serene 

 As ye are, and, where sin-worn visions flit, 



Image a brighter and more potent scene; 

 Calming the wearied heart, as soothly it ^ ^- -. 



Should shun the world that, hath its sojourn beenrf*^ bB91 



SONNET. 



" There is an inborn beauty in the Mind, 



Which they alone can contemplate, who know 

 To read the book of Spirits, and who find 



Delight to mark how thoughts and feelings flow 

 O'er the wide waste of life, and on it trace 



Green tracks of freshness, — leaves and buds that grow 

 Lovelier than they of Paradise: — Who chase 



Those torrents and wild cataracts, that throw 

 Their towery forms to heaven ; — then darkly rest 



Again within their channel, and there lie 

 Voiceless and viewless ! for the human breast 



Is as a mighty ocean ; — waves may fly 

 O'er its light sparkling surface, and yet deep^ 

 . Unseen, unheard, a world beneath them sleep." 



TO THE STARS. 



** Ye Stars ! that o'er this solemn midnight glowing. 



Lighten our hearts with your perennial ray ; 

 Ye Stars ! on earth, and earth-worn eyes bestowing 



The hallowed joy of your serener day : , 



Glorious ye roll along your wonted way, 

 Mighty the place of splendors to ye given, — 



As if ye should indeed our being sway. 

 And rule low earth from those deep vaults of heaven. 

 Truly might the Chaldean lift his eye, 



And deem that you were gods ! ye first-born lights 

 Of the Eternal's word ; who thus on high 



Appointed ye; — the book whose page invites 

 Our spirit — still communing with the sky. 



And the dark loveliness of Glory's nights!" 



SONNET. 



" Thou fair bright Heaven ! so beautiful above 

 This green expanse of wood, and vale, and hill, — 



How can we gaze on your clear depths, yet love 

 This low world, and its ways of error still ? 

 Plunging our hearts in night, the while we fill 



VOL. V, — 1835. K 



