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"OREMUS."
129
Oremus. Twilight's pensive eye
Peers o'er the bulwark of the sky,
The night-watch of the stars is set,
The gibbous moon the clouds hath met,
That o'er her disk, with anger pale,
In playful arrogance prevail.
Day seals her casket close, to wait
For the last judgment's awful fate;
If pardon for thine erring deed,
Or guardian o'er thy couch there need,
Knock, and the gate of Heaven shall be
Thrown open to thy wants and thee.
Peers o'er the bulwark of the sky,
The night-watch of the stars is set,
The gibbous moon the clouds hath met,
That o'er her disk, with anger pale,
In playful arrogance prevail.
Day seals her casket close, to wait
For the last judgment's awful fate;
If pardon for thine erring deed,
Or guardian o'er thy couch there need,
Knock, and the gate of Heaven shall be
Thrown open to thy wants and thee.
Oremus: till the glittering store
Of youth and hope delude no more,
Till ripen'd years have stolen away,
And hermit age with temples gray,
And tottering staff, and vacant air,
Shall lead thee on, thou know'st not where,
Till he who wields the mortal sting
His never-erring shaft shall wing,
Crush the weak clay in ruins dread,
The cistern break with dew-drops fed,
Oremus: till seraphic lays
Turn prayer's imploring tone to praise.
Of youth and hope delude no more,
Till ripen'd years have stolen away,
And hermit age with temples gray,
And tottering staff, and vacant air,
Shall lead thee on, thou know'st not where,
Till he who wields the mortal sting
His never-erring shaft shall wing,
Crush the weak clay in ruins dread,
The cistern break with dew-drops fed,
Oremus: till seraphic lays
Turn prayer's imploring tone to praise.
