名人诗歌|To Night

Swiftly walk o'er the western wave,

Spirit of Night!

Out of the misty^{1 eastern cave,}

Where, all the long and lone^{2 daylight,}

Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,

Which make thee terrible and dear

Swift be thy flight!

Wrap thy form in a mantle^{3 gray,}

Star-inwrought!

Blind with thine hair the eyes of day;

Kiss her until she be wearied out,

Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,

Touching^{4 all with thine opiate wand}

Come, long-sought!

When I arose and saw the dawn,

I sighed for thee;

When light rode high, and the dew was gone,

And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,

And the weary day turned to his rest,

Lingering like an unloved guest,

I sighed for thee.

Thy brother Death came, and cried,

Wouldst thou me?

Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,

Murmured like a noontide bee,

Shall I nestle near thy side?

Wouldst thou me?And I replied,

No, not thee!

Death will come when thou art dead,

Soon, too soon

Sleep will come when thou art fled;

Of neither would I ask the boon⁵

I ask of thee, beloved Night

Swift be thine approaching flight,

Come soon, soon!