Classic Poem

Thou, burning Topaz,
flaming spirit of the shining day,
whose inexhaustible diurnal monarchy
is by the courtiers idolized that haunt
that deathless Sapphire's palace,
now swifter wheel and bend
upon this feeble breast
the seas of splendour of thy placid fires.

Thou, Harmony of Heaven,
thou never sleeping, ever vigilant,
that from the lectern of Olympic diamond
intonest sweetly metered melody,
discharging to the skies
thy debt of stintless vigil,
now in harmonious cadency outpour
consonance of light and starry quires.

. . . Greatness of Xavier
—heroic enterprise—shall be my theme.
Enough, lascivious Grandson of the Foam,
of thy barbs' quivering coals;
for sweetly won
by a more sacred Love,
my rustic plectrum, moved by Helicon,
in brief conceit a wealth of feeling frames.

In ecstasy of love
the senses ravished, sweetly now they cleave
Eurus' transparent breast,
by gentle urges driven.
Hasten, Love, thy flight,
Beauteous Star of Heaven,
that borne on thy falling wings I may
come to the mighty halls of nascent light!

There where is dawning,
and on thrones of gold the glittering Diamond
scintillating dries with thirsty lip
the aromatic tears
shed by the wavering Dawn
on Flora's empire,
and where the Carnation, chill of sap,
nor wholly red abides, nor wholly dew.

There, where fragrant
floods of oriental gums condense
the air, and Arab spices
flying seek the castle of the Sun;
there, where canorous
the deathless Phoenix dwells
—heroic symbol, cast in coloured sphere,
of the great lastingness that shall be ours.