Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-02-17
THE STARS.
FROM THE FRENCH OF LAMARTrSE.

1t is the hour for thought holy hour,
When twilight steals from her celestial home,
Proonging the mountains, days farewell.
Far ia the distant horizon her Iobo
Sweeps slowly DER the armament obscure,
Where in the azure the dim stars revive.
These globes of gold, these isles of living light
Spring up by thousands from dispensing shade,
Like dust of gold beneath the steps of night;
And ewes soft breath now stealing Ger her PATH
Sows them by clusters in tho brilliant sky.
Some hover DER the summit of the woods,
Like a celestial bird whose rapid wing
Scntters in opening, sparkling sheaves light.
Others, in waves extend themselves in air,
Like pebbles glistening with the white sea foam
Those, like n courser flying to the goal,
Fling TO the winds the long and flowing name;
These half reposing on tho distant sky
Seem soft eyes opened on sleeping world
While the edge of heavens ethereal vault,
Light stars floating in the pure,
AS cleaning sails from distant ports returned,
On Ocean glisteniug, in the morn obscure.
Meanwhile tho night moves on, and in the abyss,
Ans Se borns w them ia i6ei5 onward course,
Towards an unknown port ourselves advance
Often, by night, while zephyrs gently breathe,
Earth seems vessel floating in the air;
On azure pillows majestic rides;
Against her PROV, aerial surges dash,
While through the masts the ftfu breezes moan
Her mountains, covered with brilliant foam,
Ceave with a steady the restless wave,
And man floats DER the fathomless abyss,
Secure, confding in the pilots faith.
Suns wandering worlds which sail through space with
Say, fye can, to what celestial port
The unseen breath of Deity watts
Whether to realms Of silence and of woe,
On vast rock of midnight to be thrown,
Strewing immensely with heaps of wreck;
Or guided by his hand, to brighter shores,
And on the eternal anchor, fixed,
On waves serene, peaceful and safe to ride
You, who float nearest the celestial vault
Perchunce, ye sparkling worlds, our fate ye know
That purer ocean where you tranquil gde
More lively glories opens to the view:
More brilliant ye than US, your knowledge more
For light, the emblem is OF holy truth.
Might | believe the language of your ray
Sverng the forests high transparent dome,
Or, sudden guncing DER the troubled waves
Calming the fury of the ocean's foam;
That hallowed radiance, more mild than day,
Breathing Of love, Of virtue and of prayers
Temples of Eden, brilliant palaces,
Ye are the abodes of innocence and peace;
All which seek of truth and holy love,
Those fruits which, fallen from heaven taste EARTH
Forever nourish in those puror clmes,
The favored children Of happier life.
Alas how oft, in vigs of tho night,
When the freed soul its hoest worship pays,
fain would soar above this lower sphere,
And, mid the dazzling gorios behold
Join your bright throng radiant flowers of heaven
Beside whose splendor earthly flowers dim
Another star, in heavens pavement sown,
To ope beneath the footsteps of my God
Or sparkle DER His brow, the palest gem,
Amid the glores of His dadem.
In the pure crystal of the azule waves,
Recalling oft to mind my natal globe,
Each night, alone, to linger would come,
With soft light beaming on the mounts of earth;
Beneath the forests leafy arches glance,
Sleep on the meadows, float upon the wave,
And gently pierce the veil of flying clouds,
Like glance of love half hid by modesty.
To man would my hottest visits pay;
Aud if there be on earth pensve brow,
If there eyes which know no gentle Sleep
Souls bathed in sorrow, hearts oppressed with care,
Pouring their sacred gtiets before Gods throne
By day concealing them from mortal eye,
And in nights bosom, letting fall the tear;
My ray winged by affections magic power,
Shall on the darkoned brow delight TO dwell;
My gentle radiance, around them shed,
Shall on their bosom rest, smile in their eyes
To them will | reveal in words sublime
The secret which misfortune only knows
Dry up their tears; and when in mornings eye,
My face grows pale upon the distant sky,
Its last ray, as IL meets their softened gaze
Shall leave them still a vague and holy dream
of minglng pence and hope and worn with signs,
Yet gently may they sleep before the dawn.
And you, bright sisters, my companion stars,
Eimmelling the blue ethereal plains,
Measuring your footsteps by the Tyre of heaven,
And mingling in its high harmonious strains;
follow you in this celestial chain,
Led by the power which moves you safely on:
Ye through this wilderness my steps shall guide,
This labyrinth of fires, wherein the gaze
Wearies, and in immensity is lost:
Still shall ye teach my soul to praise to love
Him whom seek, porchance whom you behold
Till lost in glory's iount, our trembling rays
Throughout eternity paTtake His bliss. l.. l.,