Above the distant hill where darkness broods
O'er all its vanished dells, and lawns, and woods;
Where but a mass of shade the sight can trace
Even now she shows, half-veiled her lovely face:
Across the gloomy valley flings her light,

Far to the western slopes with hamlets white;
And gives, where woods the chequered upland strew,
To the green corn of summer, autumn's hue.

WORDSWORTH.

MOONRISE.

WOON will the Moon and all her stars be here! A smiling light proclaims her o'er yon hill; Slowly she raises up her radiant sphere, And stillness, at her smile, becomes more still. My heart forgets all thought of human ill, And man seems happy as his place of birth: All things that yield him joy my spirit fill With kindred joy! and even his humblest mirth Seems at this peaceful hour to beautify the earth.

WILSON.

MOONRISE.

OW like a queen comes forth the lovely Moon
From the slow opening curtains of the clouds,
Walking in beauty to her midnight throne!
The stars are veiled in light; the ocean-floods,
And the ten thousand streams-the boundless woods-
The trackless wilderness-the mountain's brow,
Where Winter on eternal pinions broods-

All height, depth, wildness, grandeur, gloom, below, Touched by thy smile, lone Moon! in one wild splendour glow.

CROLY.

MOONRISE.

RB of the night! thy pale still ray
Gleams on the sleeping earth;

Day's glories, which have passed away, Proclaimed thy gentler birth.

Clouds float around thee, and awhile
Thou'rt hidden from the sight;
Yet pass they o'er, and thou dost smile
Enthroned in peace and light.

Thus the dark shades that cloud the soul,
And veil faith's radiant eye,

Shall melt beneath the high control
That spreads thy beams on high.

Pale is the outline of the trees
As marked by thy dim light,
And now the chill, autumnal breeze
Fans not the veil of night.

Season of thought! when the mind feels

A pure and Heaven-sent calm, When o'er the spirit softly steals A free o'erpowering charm:

Orb of the night! when tempest tost

Or calm, still shed thy ray,

Till thy bright influence be lost

In never-ending day.

ANON,

A MOONLIGHT NIGHT.

OW beautiful is Night!

A dewy freshness fills the silent air;
No mist obscures, nor cloud, nor speck,

nor stain,

Breaks the serene of heaven;

In full-orbed glory yonder moon divine
Rolls through the dark-blue depths.
Beneath her steady ray

The desert-circle spreads,

Like the round ocean girdled with the sky.

How beautiful is Night!

SOUTHEY.

A MOONLIGHT NIGHT.

NOW beautiful on yonder casement-panes
The mild moon gazes,―mark!

With what a lovely and majestic step

She treads the heavenly hills!

And oh! how soft, how silently she pours

Her chastening radiance on the scene below!
And hill, and dale, and tower

Drink the pure flood of light!

Roll on-roll thus, queen of the midnight bour,
For ever beautiful!

NEELE.

A MOONLIGHT NIGHT.

IS midnight; on the mountains brown
The cold round Moon shines deeply down
Blue rolls the waters, blue the sky

Spreads like an ocean hung on high,