Page:The Excursion, Wordsworth, 1814.djvu/440

414 Attained his western bound; but rays of light—

Now suddenly diverging from the orb

Retired behind the mountain tops or veiled

By the dense air—shot upwards to the crown

Of the blue firmament—aloft—and wide:

And multitudes of little floating clouds,

Pierced through their thin etherial mould, ere we,

Who saw, of change were conscious, had become

Vivid as fire—clouds separately poized,

Innumerable multitude of Forms

Scattered through half the circle of the sky;

And giving back, and shedding each on each,

With prodigal communion, the bright hues

Which from the unapparent Fount of glory

They had imbibed, and ceased not to receive.

That which the heavens displayed, the liquid deep

Repeated; but with unity sublime!

While from the grassy mountain's open side

We gazed, in silence hushed, with eyes intent

On the refulgent spectacle—diffused

Through earth, sky, water, and all visible space,

The Priest in holy transport thus exclaimed—