Noctilucae 199 



of the Milky Way, was a single smouldering 

 surge in the flow of the Infinite Tides. 



Yet again there came a change. I saw no 

 more that vapory surge of suns; but the living 

 darkness streamed and thrilled about me with 

 infinite sparkling; and every sparkle was beat 

 ing like a heart, beating out colors like the 

 tints of the sea-fires. And the lampings of all 

 continually flowed away, as shivering threads 

 <of radiance, into illimitable Mystery. . . . 



Then I knew myself also a phosphor-point, 

 one fugitive floating sparkle of the measure 

 less current; and I saw that the light which 

 was mine shifted tint with each changing of 

 thought. Ruby it sometimes shone, and some 

 times sapphire: now it was flame of topaz; 

 again, it was fire of emerald. And the mean 

 ing of the changes I could not fully know. But 

 thoughts of the earthly life seemed to make the 

 light burn red ; while thoughts of supernal being, 

 of ghostly beauty and of ghostly bliss, 

 seemed to kindle ineffable rhythms of azure and 

 of violet. 



But of white lights there were none in all the 

 Visible. And I marvelled. 



