Take not from me thy light away--
I look on thee, and I recall
The dreams of by-gone years--
O'er many a hope I lay the pall
With its becoming tears;

Yet turn to thee with thy full beam,
And bless thee, Oh love-giving star!
For life's sweet, sad, illusive dream
Fruition, though in Heaven afar--
"A silver lining" hath the cloud
Through dark and stormiest night,
And there are eyes to pierce the shroud
And see the hidden light.

Thou movest side by side with Jove,
And, 'tis a quaint conceit, perchance--
Thou seem'st in humid light to move
As tears concealed thy burning glance--
Such Virgil saw thee, when thine eyes,
More lovely through their glow,[2]
Won from the Thunderer of the skies
An accent soft and low.

And Mars is there with his red beams,
Tumultuous, earnest, unsubdued--
And silver-footed Dian gleams
Faint as when she, on Latmos stood--
God help the child! such night brought forth
When Love to Power appeals,