24
Richard Forest's Midsummer Night.
X.
As we gaze and gaze on the sleeping sea
Beneath the moon's soft splendour,
The wide expanse inspires a trance
Most solemn and most tender.
As we gaze and gaze on the sleeping sea
Beneath the moon's soft splendour,
The wide expanse inspires a trance
Most solemn and most tender.
The heavens all silent with their stars,
The sweet air hardly breathing,
The liquid light of ripples bright
Wreathing and interwreathing.
The sweet air hardly breathing,
The liquid light of ripples bright
Wreathing and interwreathing.
The tide self-poised now at the full,
Scarce swaying, almost soundless;
The sea between twin skies serene,
Calm, fathomless and boundless.
Scarce swaying, almost soundless;
The sea between twin skies serene,
Calm, fathomless and boundless.
What specks are we in this vast world,
Our little lives how fleeting!
While star on star is throbbing far,
What matter two hearts beating?
Our little lives how fleeting!
While star on star is throbbing far,
What matter two hearts beating?
How many many million years
Those living lights supernal
Shone ere our birth on this small earth!
Yet they are not eternal.
Those living lights supernal
Shone ere our birth on this small earth!
Yet they are not eternal.
How many many million years,
When we have passed death's portal,
When we have passed death's portal,
