And thus with all said leave thee; for save this

No word is left us, and no hope alive.

CHORUS.

[Str.

He hath uttered too surely his wrath not obscurely, nor wrapt as in mists of his breath,

350

The master that lightens not hearts he enlightens, but gives them foreknowledge of death.

As a bolt from the cloud hath he sent it aloud and proclaimed it afar,

[Pg 20]

From the darkness and height of the horror of night hath he shown us a star.

Star may I name it and err not, or flame shall I say,

Born of the womb that was born for the tomb of the day?

[Ant.

O Night, whom other but thee for mother, and Death for the father, Night,

Shall we dream to discover, save thee and thy lover, to bring such a sorrow to sight?

From the slumberless bed for thy bedfellow spread and his bride under earth

Hast thou brought forth a wild and insatiable child, an unbearable birth.

Fierce are the fangs of his wrath, and the pangs that they give;

360

None is there, none that may bear them, not one that would live.

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