Page:Selections from the American poets (IA selectamerpoet00bryarich).pdf/267
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263
Henry Ware, Jr.
THE VISION OF LIBERTY.
The, evening heavens were calm and bright;
No dimness rested on the glittering light,
That sparkled from that wilderness of worlds on high
Those distant suns burn d on in quiet ray;
The placid planets held their modest way;
And silence reign d profound o er earth, and sea, and sky.
No dimness rested on the glittering light,
That sparkled from that wilderness of worlds on high
Those distant suns burn d on in quiet ray;
The placid planets held their modest way;
And silence reign d profound o er earth, and sea, and sky.
Oh what an hour for lofty thought!
My spirit burn'd within; I caught
A holy inspiration from the hour.
Around me man and nature slept;
Alone my solemn watch I kept,
Till morning dawn'd, and sleep resumed her power.
My spirit burn'd within; I caught
A holy inspiration from the hour.
Around me man and nature slept;
Alone my solemn watch I kept,
Till morning dawn'd, and sleep resumed her power.
A vision pass'd upon my soul.
I still was gazing up to heaven,
As in the early hours of even;
I sill beheld the planets roll,
And all those countless sons of light
Flame from the broad blue arch, and guide the moonless night.
I still was gazing up to heaven,
As in the early hours of even;
I sill beheld the planets roll,
And all those countless sons of light
Flame from the broad blue arch, and guide the moonless night.
When lo, upon the plain,
Just where it skirts the swelling main,
A massive castle, far and high,
In towering grandeur broke upon my eye.
Proud in its strength and years, the pond'rous pile
Flung up its time-defying towers;
Its lofty gates seem'd scornfully to smile
At vain assault of human powers,
And threats and arms deride.
Its gorgeous carvings of heraldic pride
In giant masses graced the walls above,
And dungeons yawn'd below.
Yet ivy there and moss their garlands wove,
Grave, silent chroniclers of time s protracted flow.
Just where it skirts the swelling main,
A massive castle, far and high,
In towering grandeur broke upon my eye.
Proud in its strength and years, the pond'rous pile
Flung up its time-defying towers;
Its lofty gates seem'd scornfully to smile
At vain assault of human powers,
And threats and arms deride.
Its gorgeous carvings of heraldic pride
In giant masses graced the walls above,
And dungeons yawn'd below.
Yet ivy there and moss their garlands wove,
Grave, silent chroniclers of time s protracted flow.
Bursting on my steadfast gaze,
See, within, a sudden blaze!
See, within, a sudden blaze!