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 noontide air,
Dimpling its bright and silent face
Each minute into some new grace,
And varying Heaven's reflections thereOr, 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
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 befal
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 waked my soul's intensest care;
Their forms, souls, feelings, still to me
God's most disturbing mystery!
It was my doom-even 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 th' 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 even by quenching is awaked,
And which becomes or bless'd or cursed,
As is the fount whereat 'tis slaked-
Still urged me onward, with desire
Insatiate, to explore, inquire-
Whate'er the wondrous things might be,
That waked each new idolatry—
Their cause, aim, source from whence they
Their inmost powers, as though for me
Existence on that knowledge hung.
Oh what a vision were the stars,
When first I saw them burn on high, Rolling along, like living cars
Of light, for gods to journey by! They were my heart's first passion-days And nights, unwearied, in their rays
Have I hung floating, till each sense
Seem'd full of their bright influence.
Innocent joy! alas, how much
Of misery had I shunn'd below,
Could I have still lived blest with such ;
Nor, proud and restless, burn'd to know
The knowledge that brings guilt and woe!
Often-so much I loved to trace
The secrets of this starry race-
Have I at morn and evening run
Along the lines of radiance spun,
Like webs, between them and the sun,
Untwisting all the tangled ties
Of light into their different dyes—
Then fleetly wing'd I off, in quest
Of those, the farthest, loneliest,
That watch, like winking sentinels,
The void, beyond which Chaos dwells,
And there, with noiseless plume, pursued
Their track through that grand solitude,
Asking intently all and each
What soul within their radiance dwelt,
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