Charles Sangster (1822–1893)

A Legend of the Stars

PRELUDE

THE STARS are heaven’s ministers;

Right royally they teach

God’s glory and omnipotence,

In wondrous lowly speech.

All eloquent with music as

The tremblings of a lyre,

To him that hath an ear to hear

They speak in words of fire.

Not to learnèd sages only

Their whisperings come down;

The monarch is not glorified

Because he wears a crown.

The humblest soldier in the camp

Can win the smile of Mars,

And ’tis the lowliest spirits hold

Communion with the stars.

Thoughts too refined for utterance,

Ethereal as the air,

Crowd through the brain’s dim labyrinths,

And leave their impress there;

As far along the gleaming void

Man’s tender glances roll,

Wonder usurps the throne of speech,

But vivifies the soul.

Oh, heaven-cradled mysteries,

What sacred paths ye’ve trod—

Bright, jewelled scintillations from

The chariot-wheels of God!

When in the spirit He rode forth,

With vast creative aim,

These were His footprints left behind,

To magnify His name!