Yet I would press you to my lips once more, Ye have beguil'd the hours of infancy, As in the wood-paths of my native XII. ONCE more, and yet once more, I give unto my harp a dark-woven lay; I heard the waters roar, I heard the flood of ages pass away.* Noting, grey chronicler! the silent years; I saw thee rise, I saw the scroll complete, Thou spakest, and at thy feet The universe gave way. This Poem was begun either during the publication of Clifton Grove, or shortly afterwards. Henry never laid aside the intention of completing it, and some of the detached parts were among his latest productions. TIME, A POEM. GENIUS of musings, who, the midnight hour For now I strike to themes of import high Above this narrow cell, I celebrate Him who, august, Was ere these worlds were fashioned, ere the sun Sprang from the east, or Lucifer display'd At God's command, assum'd a milder strain, From the dark void the smiling universe. Chain'd to the grovelling frailties of the flesh, His mind may turn with double joy to God, His only certainty and resting place; He must put off a while this mortal vest, And learn to follow, without giddiness, To heights where all is vision, and surprise, The studious taper, far from all resort Of crowds and folly, in some still retreat; High on the beetling promontory's crest, |