Making the air about them sweet with joy,

As summer's breath with floral incense fumes;

And every echo learns the words of love,

And wonders at its sweet deliciousness,

Repeating o'er and o'er the honied tones

Till they infuse into their secret souls.

O ye bright orbs! your shining would be dimmed

[Pg 25]

By sin and all its pallid consequence,

Till scarce a glimmer fluttered on the sky

To 'lume the dreamer to your sadden'd sphere.

But ye have held your priceless birthright sure,

And walk among the panoply of heaven,

Clear and true-hearted as the sons of God.

Yet may we gaze upon you from afar

As the unstained gaze on the innocent,

Lovely and peerless in their purity,

Smitten and wondering with humbleness

Of that which is your everlasting dower;

Quenching within us pride and earthliness

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