Where such, when glittering out all o'er, As mortal eye-lids wink'd before.
"Twas RUBI-once among the prime
And flower of those bright creatures,
Spirits of Knowledge, who o'er Time
And Space and Thought an empire claim'd,
Second alone to Him, whose light
Was, ev'n to theirs, as day to night- 'Twixt whom and them was distance far And wide, as would the journey be To reach from any island star The vague shores of Infinity! "Twas RUBI, in whose mournful eye Slept the dim light of days gone by; Whose voice, though sweet, fell on the ear Like echoes, in some silent place, When first awak'd for many a year; And when he smil'd-if o'er his face Smile ever shone-'twas like the grace Of moonlight rainbows, fair, but wan, The sunny life, the glory gone. Ev'n o'er his pride, though still the sanie, A softening shade from sorrow came;
And though at times his spirit knew The kindlings of disdain and ire, Short was the fitful glare they threw- Like the last flashes, fierce but few,
Seen through some noble pile on fire!
Such was the Angel, who now broke The silence that had come o'er all, When he, the Spirit that last spoke, Clos'd the sad history of his fall; And, while a sacred lustre, flown
For many a day, relum'd his cheek, And not those sky-tun'd lips alone But his eyes, brow, and tresses, roll'd
Like sunset waves, all seem'd to speak; Thus his eventful story told:
"You both remember well the day When unto Eden's new-made bowers, He, whom all living things obey, Summon'd his chief angelic powers To witness the one wonder yet, Beyond man, angel, star, or sun, He must achieve, ere he could set His seal upon the world, as done--- To see that last perfection rise,
That crowning of creation's birth, When, mid the worship and surprise Of circling angels, Woman's eyes
First open'd upon heaven and earth; And from their lids a thrill was sent, That through each living spirit went Like first light through the firmament!
Can you forget how gradual stole The fresh-awaken'd breath of soul Throughout her perfect form--which seem'd To grow transparent, as there beam'd That dawn of Mind within, and caught New loveliness from each new thought?
Slow as o'er summer seas we trace The progress of the noon-tide air, Dimpling its bright and silent face Each minute into s
And varying heaven's reflections there; Or, like the light of evening, stealing O'er some fair temple, which all day Hath slept in shadow, slow revealing Its several beauties, ray by ray, Till it shines out, a thing to bless, All full of light and loveliness.
Can you forget her blush, when round IT Through Eden's lone, enchanted ground She look'd---and at the sea---the skies--- And heard the rush of many a wing, By God's command then vanishing, And saw the last few angel eyes, Still lingering---mine among the rest,--- Reluctant leaving scene so blest?
From that miraculous hour, the fate Of this new, glorious Being dwelt For ever, with a spell-like weight, Upon my spirit---early, late,
Whate er I did, or dream'd, or felt, The thought of what might yet befall That splendid creature mix'd with all.
Nor she alone, but her whole race Through ages yet to come---whate'er Of feminine, and fond, and fair, Should spring from that pure mind and face, All wak'd my soul's intensest care; Their forms, souls, feelings, still to me God's most disturbing mystery!
It was my doom---ev'n from the first, When summon'd with my cherub peers, To witness the young vernal burst
Of Nature through those blooming spheres,
Those flowers of light, that sprung beneath The first touch of the' Eternal's breath--It was my doom still to be haunted
By some new wonder, some sublime And matchless work, that for the time Held all my soul, enchain'd, enchanted, And left me not a thought, a dream, A word, but on that only theme!
The wish to know---that endless thirst, Which ev'n by quenching is awak'd, And which becomes or blest or curst,
As is the fount whereat 'tis slak'd-- Still urg'd me onward, with desire Insatiate, to explore, inquire---
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