won, Of millions in one night created He walks in lonely gloom beneath the there, Sudden as when the moonrise makes appear Strange clouds in the east; a marble pyramid Distinct with steps: that mighty shape did wear The light of genius; its still shadow hid Far ships: to know its height the morning mists forbid ! XLI To hear the restless multitudes for ever Around the base of that great Altar flow, As on some mountain-islet burst and shiver Atlantic waves; and solemnly and slow, As the wind bore that tumult to and fro, To feel the dreamlike music, which did swim Like beams through floating clouds on waves below, noonday sun. XLIII To the great Pyramid I came its stair With female choirs was thronged, the loveliest Among the free, grouped with its sculptures rare ; As I approached, the morning's golden mist, Which now the wonder-stricken breezes kist With their cold lips, fled, and the summit shone Like Athos seen from Samothracia, drest In earliest light, by vintagers, and one Sate there, a female Shape upon an ivory throne: XLIV A Form most like the imagined habitant Of silver exhalations sprung from dawn, By winds which feed on sunrise woven, to enchant As, when eclipse hath passed, things sudden shine The faiths of men: all mortal To men's astonished eyes most clear and eyes were drawn As famished mariners, through strange seas gone, Gaze on a burning watch-tower-by the light Of those divinest lineaments. Alone With thoughts which none could share, from that fair sight I turned in sickness, for a veil shrouded her countenance bright. XLV And neither did I hear the acclamations Which, from brief silence bursting, filled the air With her strange name and mine, from all the nations crystalline. XLVII At first Laone spoke most tremulously: But soon her voice the calmness which it shed Gathered, and-"Thou art whom I sought to see, And thou art our first votary here," she said. "I had a dear friend once, but he is dead! And, of all those on the wide earth who breathe, Thou dost resemble him alone I spread This veil between us two, that thou beneath Which we, they said, in strength Shouldst image one who may have been I was so calm and joyous.—I could From both the hearts whose pulse in joy If as ourselves we cease to love our Burned o'er the isles. All stood in joy When in the silence of all spirits there Laone's voice was felt, and through the air Her thrilling gestures spoke, most eloquently fair. I "Calm art thou as yon sunset! swift and strong As new-fledged eagles, beautiful and young, That float among the blinding beams of morning: And underneath thy feet writhe Custom and Hell and mortal Melan choly Hark! the Earth starts to hear the mighty warning Of thy voice sublime and holy; See thee, feel thee, know thee now, To thy voice their hearts have trembled, Like ten-thousand clouds which flow With one wide wind as it flies! Wisdom! thy irresistible children rise To hail thee; and the elements they chain, Beside that Image then I sate, while And their own will, to swell the glory she |