Читать книгу Poems - William Anderson - Страница 19

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The early bridal Moon

Comes in her splendour forth, and walks between

The stars of Heaven, like an anointed queen

Amid her maids at noon.

Now from the sleeping hills

The spectral mist-wreaths quickly pass away,

Beneath her pale, but earth enamoured ray,

And glory all things fills.

Forth let us wander, led

By odours sweet; leaving th' accustomed way,

The valley seek we, where the moonbeams stray,

Like May-flowers newly shed!

The distant streamlets sing

Their vesper hymn.—Is there a voice below

Can give such music, mingled with such woe,

Or can such rapture bring?

In the far wild we hear

That soothing tone its murmurings repeat,

And the more sad, the sweeter, as is meet

The spirit lone to cheer.

Fair is the sky, and fair

The earth; and yet 'tis but the moon, this night,

That lights them both, and makes them look so bright—

Clothes them in beauty rare!

And who are they that come

Into the moonlight from the tranquil shade,

And then shrink back, as to be seen afraid,

With feelings that are dumb?

Two lovers fond and true

Holding communion with each other's hearts;—

The first pure glow of love that ne'er departs,

Which moonlight scenes renew.

Who has not on the moon

Looked long and musingly, and, looking, dreamed

Of love and loveliness? Who has not deemed

Its ray a granted boon?

The unveiled orb of night—

To which the sighs and orisons, flow'r-wreathed,

Of lovers in all ages have been breathed—

Bathes all she sees in light.

Her tracery is rich

With images Mosaic, soft inlaid;—

Forms, heav'n-traced, slumber 'twixt the light and shade,

In every quiet niche.

Moonlight is not like eld—

For it is young, and bright, and fresh and clear;

But age the features sharpens, and brings near

Resemblances withheld:

So moonlight in its pride

Outlines the landscape, and brings out to view

Scenes of bright promise, and of fairy hue,

By glen and mountain side!

In moonlit mead or dell

My soul endenizened, imbibes a tone

Of nature-nurtured truth, which still is prone

A plaintive tale to tell.