Page:The Leadbeater Papers (1862) Vol 1.djvu/39
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1766.]
THE ANNALS OF BALITORE.
25
This hill so steep when we descend,
Our feet with quickest motion bend
But, when ascending, leave with pain
The beauties of this charming plain.
Still lingering on the bridge we stay
While the sun shoots his evening ray:
Wide spread the silver waters here,
Unruffled, calm, serene and clear;
But, straitened at the other side,
With gently-tinkling murmurs glide;
A darker gloom these waves arrays,
On those a brighter lustre plays.
And now the setting orb from high
Rolls down the blushing western sky;
Around he throws his parting fires,
And in a blaze of gold retires.
On every side we cast our eyes,
Behold, the fading landscape dies;
The glowing colours melt away,
And twilight dims the eye of day.
But yonder, see, arrayed in light
Mounts the pale empress of the night,
Walking in brightness through the shades.
Onward the host of heaven she leads,
Brighter she gains the etherial way,
And sheds around a milder day;
From high beholds her silver beam
Reflected in the lucid stream.
The stream, rejoiced so bright a guest
Should sleep upon his placid breast,
Would fain his gliding waters stay,
With her delightful locks to play.
A solemn silence reigns around,
No busy footsteps beat the ground,
Our feet with quickest motion bend
But, when ascending, leave with pain
The beauties of this charming plain.
Still lingering on the bridge we stay
While the sun shoots his evening ray:
Wide spread the silver waters here,
Unruffled, calm, serene and clear;
But, straitened at the other side,
With gently-tinkling murmurs glide;
A darker gloom these waves arrays,
On those a brighter lustre plays.
And now the setting orb from high
Rolls down the blushing western sky;
Around he throws his parting fires,
And in a blaze of gold retires.
On every side we cast our eyes,
Behold, the fading landscape dies;
The glowing colours melt away,
And twilight dims the eye of day.
But yonder, see, arrayed in light
Mounts the pale empress of the night,
Walking in brightness through the shades.
Onward the host of heaven she leads,
Brighter she gains the etherial way,
And sheds around a milder day;
From high beholds her silver beam
Reflected in the lucid stream.
The stream, rejoiced so bright a guest
Should sleep upon his placid breast,
Would fain his gliding waters stay,
With her delightful locks to play.
A solemn silence reigns around,
No busy footsteps beat the ground,