I turn aside to the holy, the inexpressible, the mysterious Night.  Afar off lies the world, buried in some deep chasm:  desolate and lonely is the spot it filled.  Through the chords of the breast sighs deepest sorrow.  I will sink down into the dewdrops, and with ashes will I be commingled.  The distant lines of memory, desires of youth, the dreams of childhood, a whole life’s short joys and hopes vain, unfulfilled, come clothed in grey, like evening mists, when the sun’s glory has departed.  Elsewhere has the light broken upon habitations of gladness.  What, should it never return again to its children, who with the faith of innocence await its coming?

What fount is thus suddenly opened within the heart, so full of forethought, that destroys the soft breath of sorrow?  Thou also—­ dost thou love us, gloomy Night?  What holdest thou concealed beneath thy mantle that draws my soul towards thee with such mysterious power?  Costly balsam raineth from thy hand; from thy horn pourest thou out manna; the heavy wings of the spirit liftest thou.  Darkly and inexpressibly do we feel ourselves moved:  a solemn countenance I behold with glad alarm, that bends towards me in gentle contemplation, displaying, among endless allurements of the mother, lovely youth!  How poor and childish does the light now seem!  How joyous and how hallowed is the day’s departure!—­ Therefore then only, because Night dismissed thy vassals, hast thou sown in the infinity of space those shining balls to declare thine almighty power, and thy return in the season of absence?  More heavenly than those glittering stars seem the unnumbered eyes that Night has opened within us.  Farther can they see than beyond the palest of that countless host; without need of light can they pierce the depths of a spirit of love, that fills a yet more glorious space with joy beyond expression.  Glory to the world’s Queen, the high declarer of spheres of holiness, the nurse of hallowed love!  Thee, thou tenderly beloved one, doth she send to me—­thee, lovely sun of the Night.  Now I awaken, for I am thine and mine:  the Night hast thou given as a sign of life, and made me man.  Devour with glowing spiritual fire this earthly body, that I ethereal may abide with thee in union yet more perfect, and then may the bridal Night endure for ever.

II.

Must ever the morn return?  Is there no end to the sovereignty of earth?  Unhallowed occupation breaks the heavenly pinion of the Night.  Shall the secret offering of love at no time burn for ever?  To the Light is its period allotted; but beyond time and space is the empire of the Night.  Eternal is the duration of sleep.  Thou holy sleep! bless not too rarely the Night’s dedicated son in this earth’s daily work!  Fools alone recognise thee not, and know of no sleep beyond the shadow which in that twilight of the actual Night thou throwest in compassion over us.  They feel thee not in the vine’s golden flood, in the almond-tree’s marvel oil, and in the brown juice of the manna; they know not that it is thou that enhaloest the tender maiden’s breast, and makest a heaven of her bosom; conceive not that out of histories of old thou steppest forth an opener of heaven, and bearest the key to the abodes of the blessed, the silent messenger of unending mysteries.