Introduction

HEAR the voice of the Bard!

Who present, past, and future, sees;

Whose ears have heard

The Holy Word

That walk’d among the ancient trees,

Calling the lapsèd soul,

And weeping in the evening dew;

That might control

The starry pole,

And fallen, fallen light renew!

‘O Earth, O Earth, return!

Arise from out the dewy grass;

Night is worn,

And the morn

Rises from the slumberous mass.

‘Turn away no more;

Why wilt thou turn away.

The starry floor,

The wat’ry shore,

Is giv’n thee till the break of day.’