But now my soul, unused to stretch her powers In flight so daring, drops her weary wing, And seeks again the known accustomed spot, Drest up with sun, and shade, and lawns, and streams, A mansion fair, and spacious for its guest, And full replete with wonders. Let me here, Content and grateful, wait the appointed time, THE EPIPHANY. DEEP in Sabea's fragrant groves retired, Long had the Eastern Sages studious dwelt, Long had they trained the' inquiring youth, The sacred characters they knew to trace Derived from Egypt's elder race; And all that Greece, with copious learning fraught, Thro' different schools by various masters taught; And all Arabia's glowing store Of fabled truths and rich poetic lore: Stars, plants and gems, and talismans they knew, And far was spread their fame and wide their praises grew. The' admiring East their praises spread : But with uncheated eyes themselves they viewed; And oft in melancholy strain The fond complaint renewed, How little yet they knew, how much was learned in vain. For human guilt and mortal woe Their sympathizing sorrows flow; Their hallowed prayers ascend in incense pure; The great Eternal had made known, Or reached the lowest step of that immortal throne. And oft the starry cope of heaven beneath, When day's tumultuous sounds had ceased to breathe, With fixed feet, as rooted there, Through the long night they drew the chilly air; While sliding o'er their head, In solemn silence dread, The' ethereal orbs their shining course pursued, In holy trance enwrapt the sages stood, With folded arms laid on their reverend breast, And to that Heaven they knew, their orisons addresst. A Star appears; they marked its kindling beam In wondering silence softly gliding by, At the fair stranger seemed to gaze, Or veiled their trembling fires and half withdrew their rays. The blameless men the wonder saw, And hailed the joyful sign with pious awe; They knew 't was none of all the train With which in shadowy forms and shapes uncouth, Monsters of earth and of the main, Remote from nature as from truth, Their learned pens the sky had figured o'er : No star with such kind aspect shone before; Nor e'er did wandering planet stoop 'so low To guide benighted pilgrims through this vale of woe. The heavenly impulse they obey, The new-born light directs their way; Through deserts never marked by human tread, And billowy waves of loose, unfaithful sand, O'er many an unknown hill and foreign strand The silver clue unerring led, And peopled towns they pass, and glittering spires; No cloud could veil its light, no sun could quench its fires. Thus passed the venerable pilgrims on, Till Salem's stately towers before them shone, And soon their feet her hallowed pavements presst; Not in her marble courts to rest, |