CXXXV. LUCIFER IN STARLIGHT. ON a starred night Prince Lucifer uprose. And now upon his western wing he leaned, Now the black planet shadowed Arctic snows. He reached a middle height, and at the stars, Which are the brain of heaven, he looked, and sank. Around the ancient track marched, rank on rank, The army of unalterable law. CXXXVI. RENOUNCEMENT. I MUST not think of thee; and, tired yet strong, The love of thee-and in the blue Heaven's height, And in the dearest passage of a song. Oh just beyond the sweetest thoughts that throng This breast, the thought of thee waits hidden yet bright; But it must never, never come in sight; I must stop short of thee the whole day long. But when sleep comes to close each difficult day, With the first dream that comes with the first sleep CXXXVII. WITHOUT HIM. "Senza te son nulla."-PETRARCA. I TOUCHED the heart that loved me, as a player My thoughts in sound to the measure of my will. He is dead, and silence takes me unaware. The songs I knew not he resumes, set free OXXXVIII. SPRING AMONG THE ALBAN HILLS. ΤΟ "Silent with expectation."-SHELLEY. O'ER the Campagna it is dim warm weather, With wild Spring meanings hill and plain together I fain would put my hands about thy face, Thou with thy thoughts, who art another Spring, And draw thee to me like a mournful child. Thou lookest on me from another place; I touch not this day's secret, nor the thing CXXXIX. LIFE AND DEATH. FROM morn to eve they struggled-Life and Death. So firm their feet, so undisturbed their breath. One only form was left of those who fought, The long dark form of Death-and it was dead. |