the mother, lovely youth! How poor and childish does the light now
seem! How joyous and how hallowed is the day's departure!--
Therefore then only, because Night dismissed thy vassals, hast thou
sown in the infinity of space those shining balls to declare thine
almighty power, and thy return in the season of absence? More
heavenly than those glittering stars seem the unnumbered eyes that
Night has opened within us. Farther can they see than beyond the
palest of that countless host; without need of light can they pierce
the depths of a spirit of love, that fills a yet more glorious space
with joy beyond expression. Glory to the world's Queen, the high
declarer of spheres of holiness, the nurse of hallowed love! Thee,
thou tenderly beloved one, doth she send to me--thee, lovely sun of
the Night. Now I awaken, for I am thine and mine: the Night hast
thou given as a sign of life, and made me man. Devour with glowing
spiritual fire this earthly body, that I ethereal may abide with
thee in union yet more perfect, and then may the bridal Night endure
for ever.



II.



Must ever the morn return? Is there no end to the sovereignty of
earth? Unhallowed occupation breaks the heavenly pinion of the
Night. Shall the secret offering of love at no time burn for ever?
To the Light is its period allotted; but beyond time and space is
the empire of the Night. Eternal is the duration of sleep. Thou
holy sleep! bless not too rarely the Night's dedicated son in this