|
Other languages:
Deutsch
| Français
II.
Must the morning always return? Will the
despotism of the earthly never cease?
Unholy activity consumes the angel-visit
of the Night. Will the time never come
when Love's hidden sacrifice shall burn
eternally? To the Light a season was set;
but everlasting and boundless is the
dominion of the Night. Endless is the
duration of sleep. Holy Sleep, gladden not
too seldom in this earthly day-labour, the
devoted servant of the Night. Fools alone
mistake thee, knowing nought of sleep but
the shadow which, in the gloaming of the
real night, thou pitifully castest over
us. They feel thee not in the golden flood
of the grapes, in the magic oil of the
almond tree, and the brown juice of the
poppy. They know not that it is thou who
hauntest the bosom of the tender maiden,
and makest a heaven of her lap; never
suspect it is thou, the portress of
heaven, that steppest to meet them out of
ancient stories, bearing the key to the
dwellings of the blessed, silent messenger
of secrets infinite.
(p. 11)
I.
|
III.
|
|
