TIME. 



[This Poem wa.s begun either during the publication of Cltfton 

 CR0^^3 or shortly afterwards. The Author never laid aside the 

 intention of completing it, and some of the detached parts were 

 among his latest productions.] 



Gkntus of musings, who, the midnight bour 



AVasting in woods or haunted forests wild. 



Dost watch Orion in his arctic tower, 



Tlij dark eye fixed as in some holy trance : 



Or, Avhen the volley'd lightnings cleave the air. 



And Ruin gaunt bestrides the winged storm, 



Sitt'st in some lonely watch-tower — where thy lamp, 



Faint-blazing, strikes the fisher's eye from far, 



And 'mid the howl of elements, unmov'd 



Dost ponder on the awful scene, and trace 



The vast ej'ect to its su^Derior source, — 



Spirit, attend my lowlj^ benison ! 



For now I strike to themes of import high 



The solitary lyre ; and borne by thee 



Above this narrow cell, I celebrate 



The mysteries of Time ! 



Him who, august, 

 Was ere these worlds were fashioned, — ere the sun 

 Sprang from the east, or Lucifer displayed 

 His glowing cresset on the arch of morn, 

 Or Vesper gilded the serener eve. 

 Yea, He had heen for an eternity ! 

 Had swept unvarying from eternity 

 The harp of dciolation, ere his tones 



