Moral Pieces, in Prose and Verse/On Seeing the Moon Attended by a Solitary Star, just Before Sun-Rise
ON SEEING THE MOON ATTENDED BY A SOLITARY STAR, JUST BEFORE SUN-RISE.
LEAVING the cell of her companion, night,
She sought her bow'r which vestal lamps adorn,
But paus'd, and stay'd, and linger'd in her flight,
To change stol'n glances with the youthful morn.
All unattended too, she chose to tread,
Save that one solitary star was seen,
Darkly to wrap a mantle o'er its head,
And page the mystic footsteps of the queen.
Her veil was all undrawn, her eye was fair,
But ah! her cheek grew pale, her lustre dim;
For dark-rob'd night, high-seated on his car,
Was heard to call the wanderer on with him.
Sternly he staid his chariot 'till she came,
His cold eye glancing on her, unapprov'd,
The star attendant glow'd with angry shame,
And rising morn beheld her as she mov'd.