David Gray (1838-1861). III. To the Moon. Hunt and Lee, comps. 1867. The Book of the Sonnet

Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

III. To the Moon

By David Gray (1838–1861)


WITH what a calm serenity she smooths
Her way through cloudless jasper sown with stars!
Chaster than virtue, sweeter than the truths
Of maidenhood, in Spenser’s knightly wars.
For what is all Belphœbe’s golden hair,	5
The chastity of Britomart, the love
Of Florimel so faithful and so fair,
To thee, thou Wonder! And yet far above
Thy inoffensive beauty must I hold
Dear Una, sighing for the Red Cross Knight	10
Through all her losses, crosses manifold.
And when the lordly Lion fell in fight,
Who, who can paragon her fearful woe?
Not thou, not thou, O Moon! didst ever passion so.