THE AURORA BOREALIS AND NIGHT. OFT o'er the surface creep those lustres pale Tracking the motions of the fitful gale, When gentle spirits urged a sportive chase, The lone black fir forsakes the faded plain; The bird, who ceased, with fading light, to thread Above the distant hill where darkness broods Far to the western slopes with hamlets white; WORDSWORTH. MOONRISE. OON will the Moon and all her stars be here! A smiling light proclaims her o'er yon hill; Slowly she raises up her radiant sphere, And stillness, at her smile, becomes more still. My heart forgets all thought of human ill, And man seems happy as his place of birth: All things that yield him joy my spirit fill With kindred joy! and even his humblest mirth Seems at this peaceful hour to beautify the earth. WILSON. MOONRISE. OW like a queen comes forth the lovely Moon All height, depth, wildness, grandeur, gloom, below, Touched by thy smile, lone Moon! in one wild splendour glow. CROLY. MOONRISE. RB of the night! thy pale still ray Day's glories, which have passed away, Proclaimed thy gentler birth. Clouds float around thee, and awhile Thus the dark shades that cloud the soul, Shall melt beneath the high control Pale is the outline of the trees Season of thought! when the mind feels A pure and Heaven-sent calm, When o'er the spirit softly steals A free o'erpowering charm: Orb of the night! when tempest tost Or calm, still shed thy ray, Till thy bright influence be lost In never-ending day. ANON, A MOONLIGHT NIGHT. XOW beautiful is Night! A dewy freshness fills the silent air; Breaks the serene of heaven; In full-orbed glory yonder moon divine The desert-circle spreads, Like the round ocean girdled with the sky. OW beautiful on yonder casement-panes With what a lovely and majestic step She treads the heavenly hills! And oh! how soft, how silently she pours Her chastening radiance on the scene below! Drink the pure flood of light! Roll on-roll thus, queen of the midnight hour, NEELR. A MOONLIGHT NIGHT. IS midnight; on the mountains brown Spreads like an ocean hung on high, Bespangled with those isles of light, BYRON. A MOONLIGHT NIGHT. OW on the utmost boundary of the sight, The rising vapours catch the silver light: Thence Fancy measures, as they parting fly, Which first will throw its shadow on the eye, Passing the source of light; and thence away, Succeeded quick by brighter still than they. For yet above these wafted clouds are seen (In a remoter sky, still more serene,) Others detached in ranges through the air, Spotless as snow, and countless as they're fair Scattered immensely wide from east to west, The beauteous semblance of a flock at rest. These, to the raptured mind, aloud proclaim Their Mighty Shepherd's everlasting name. BLOOMFIELD. A MOONLIGHT NIGHT. OW calmly gliding through the dark blue sky beams, Through thinly scattered leaves and boughs grotesque, Mottle with mazy shades the orchard slope: Here o'er the chestnut's fretted foliage grey And massy, motionless they spread; here shine |