Page:The Midsummer Night.djvu/43

 Rises in glory, and mine eyes are wet.—

Oh whence these strange, these more than human, these

Godlike sensations? All is ecstacy!

I feel strong and elate, as I could spring

Up to the very moon—as if inspired

With new-born life, I could, all powerful, grasp

Great Nature, in a loving, close embrace.

My thoughts in freedom revel, and expand.

'Twas but a few hours since, weary and dull,

I flung myself beneath this tree to rest,

And now!——My past life, seems like a dark night,

That vanishing gives place to day's bright gleams,

Which chase the shadows one by one away,

Till every object stands revealed and clear.—

Oh! that I had an Eagle's towering wing

To soar aloft, and meet the golden dawn.

Oh! that I might on yon white fleecy cloud

Float thro' the blue expanse, or drive along

In wild career before the tempest blast!—

The sun's first beams have woven a rich couch

Whereon pale Hesper bows his head to rest,