TWO beauteous pleiads once were seen to rise Above the horizon of earthly spheres, And as if wrought upon by the same spell, Moved in one orbit of delicious light; And as they passed upon their shining way, Admiring eyes were turned to mark their course, And elevated thoughts filled every heart, At sight of two such lovely, pleasing orbs, Whose tender and commingling glory seemed Created only to uplift the soul, And keep it free from earthly things. Appreciative minds expressed the joy Their light afforded, in sweet words of praise; And smiles, and kind, approving glances, told How much of living beauty dwells in love. But, ah! the scene too lovely was to last,— Too glorious for the test of sordid earth; And ere they reached the zenith of their course, The bright meridian beams that wrapt their forms In roseate folds of love's effusive light Were riven by a power unseen, yet felt In the convulsive elements that shook And trembled 'neath the weight of gathering gloom Which shrouded in oblivion's night each ray Of those sweet glory-beams of living sight, That erst had shone so tenderly and bright, And hurled between them dark and angry clouds, Whose black-wreathed drapery now their beauty shrouds, And hides from earthly gaze the buried flame, Disparted, yet in glowing warmth the same. One eye alone beholds the hidden spark That lives and glows beneath the covering dark; And though the veil of deep surrounding night May keep, for aye, concealed from mortal sight The soft effulgence of those parted stars,— And though obtrusive gloom their beauty mars, Yet He who formed and gave their kindred light, Will yet, in one, their destinies unite.
