142 STAR-LIGHT. 



Have laughed until the echoing rocks have rung ;) 

 Your rays ye flung. 



And o'er the mansions of the rich, that peep 

 Beneath the living curtain of green leaves, 

 Which stately trees, and fadeless ivy weaves. 



Have kept your vigils vrhilst the favor'd sleep. 

 The troubled weep. 



And o'er the houseless one, whose softest bed 



Has been the stoney pavement ; and the strain 

 That luU'd to slumber was the hissing rain, 



Or biting wind, or some unsteady tread, 

 By "Bacchus" led. 



And o'er that spot, hallow'd and set apart, 



(The sure accompaniment of human life,) 

 Whose little mounds memorials of the strife 



When death victorious, with his venom'd dart 

 Had pierced the heart. 



Thus dazzling still, as when from out the womb. 



Of chaos, — peeping bright, — like spangled flakes 

 Dropt from some angels wing, that quiv'ring shakes 



The dust of Heaven o'er all that azure dome. 

 To cheer the gloom. 



And still unchanged, when in ray earthy bed, 

 (Away from cares which heavily oppressed) 

 Securely sleeping out that Avulcome rest ; 



(Welcome to me if o'er the quiet dead 



Those skies are spread.) 



Like pome luige mantle, o'er heav'ns mysteries, 



Picreed in vincounted specks, through which the light 

 Of glory peeps, sweet foretaste of the sight 



Of realms above; when long-lost friends in peace 

 Wait our release. 



J. H. 



