Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/373

A STRANGE BOOK 357 The mystery of all things Sailed chanting up to him : And inmost of all rings, His life alone was dim. And on a night he dreamed (Archangels knew his dream), That God above had beamed Upon his hearty's stream : And in his blood a car Had sailed away from him : And had become a star, Twinkling in distance dim. And then he clasp'd his hands, And sighed unto the star ; And from the golden sands Where loves primeval are. He sent a breath of hope Of such aspiring size, That the fair star did ope. E'en in those distant skies. And from its golden rim, A red rain trickled down, That spilt dear red on him. And mantled all his crown : And he fell on his knees, In ecstasy of heart : And he prayed God would please To give him starry part. So straightway down it came, Down, down, in dream was long ; And left behind it flame, And shed before it song : And as its hair came near, And as its voice was heard, The sound of nature's cheer, Through all her dells was stirred.