John Drinkwater
To E. de S.
To E. de S.
To E. de S.
Come down at dawn from windless hillsInto the valley of the lake,Where yet a larger quiet fillsThe hour, and mist and water makeWith rocks and reeds and island boughsOne silence and one element,Where wonder goes surely as onceIt wentBy Galilean prows.Moveless the water and the mist,Moveless the secret air above,Hushed, as upon some happy trystThe poised expectancy of love;What spirit is it that adoresWhat mighty presence yet unseen?What consummation works apaceBetweenThese rapt enchanted shores?Never did virgin beauty wakeDevouter to the bridal feastThan moves this hour upon the lakeIn adoration to the east.Here is the bride a god may know,The primal will, the young consent,Till surely upon the appointed moodIntentThe god shall leap—and, lo,Over the lake’s end strikes the sun—White, flameless fire; some purityThrilling the mist, a splendor wonOut of the world’s heart. Let there beThoughts, and atonements, and desires;Proud limbs, and undeliberate tongue;Where now we move with mortal careAmongImmortal dews and fires.So the old mating goes apace,Wind with the sea, and blood with thought,Lover with lover; and the graceOf understanding comes unsoughtWhen stars into the twilight steer,Or thrushes build among the may,Or wonder moves between the hills,And dayComes up on Rydal mere.
Come down at dawn from windless hillsInto the valley of the lake,Where yet a larger quiet fillsThe hour, and mist and water makeWith rocks and reeds and island boughsOne silence and one element,Where wonder goes surely as onceIt wentBy Galilean prows.Moveless the water and the mist,Moveless the secret air above,Hushed, as upon some happy trystThe poised expectancy of love;What spirit is it that adoresWhat mighty presence yet unseen?What consummation works apaceBetweenThese rapt enchanted shores?Never did virgin beauty wakeDevouter to the bridal feastThan moves this hour upon the lakeIn adoration to the east.Here is the bride a god may know,The primal will, the young consent,Till surely upon the appointed moodIntentThe god shall leap—and, lo,Over the lake’s end strikes the sun—White, flameless fire; some purityThrilling the mist, a splendor wonOut of the world’s heart. Let there beThoughts, and atonements, and desires;Proud limbs, and undeliberate tongue;Where now we move with mortal careAmongImmortal dews and fires.So the old mating goes apace,Wind with the sea, and blood with thought,Lover with lover; and the graceOf understanding comes unsoughtWhen stars into the twilight steer,Or thrushes build among the may,Or wonder moves between the hills,And dayComes up on Rydal mere.
Come down at dawn from windless hillsInto the valley of the lake,Where yet a larger quiet fillsThe hour, and mist and water makeWith rocks and reeds and island boughsOne silence and one element,Where wonder goes surely as onceIt wentBy Galilean prows.
Come down at dawn from windless hills
Into the valley of the lake,
Where yet a larger quiet fills
The hour, and mist and water make
With rocks and reeds and island boughs
One silence and one element,
Where wonder goes surely as once
It went
By Galilean prows.
Moveless the water and the mist,Moveless the secret air above,Hushed, as upon some happy trystThe poised expectancy of love;What spirit is it that adoresWhat mighty presence yet unseen?What consummation works apaceBetweenThese rapt enchanted shores?
Moveless the water and the mist,
Moveless the secret air above,
Hushed, as upon some happy tryst
The poised expectancy of love;
What spirit is it that adores
What mighty presence yet unseen?
What consummation works apace
Between
These rapt enchanted shores?
Never did virgin beauty wakeDevouter to the bridal feastThan moves this hour upon the lakeIn adoration to the east.Here is the bride a god may know,The primal will, the young consent,Till surely upon the appointed moodIntentThe god shall leap—and, lo,
Never did virgin beauty wake
Devouter to the bridal feast
Than moves this hour upon the lake
In adoration to the east.
Here is the bride a god may know,
The primal will, the young consent,
Till surely upon the appointed mood
Intent
The god shall leap—and, lo,
Over the lake’s end strikes the sun—White, flameless fire; some purityThrilling the mist, a splendor wonOut of the world’s heart. Let there beThoughts, and atonements, and desires;Proud limbs, and undeliberate tongue;Where now we move with mortal careAmongImmortal dews and fires.
Over the lake’s end strikes the sun—
White, flameless fire; some purity
Thrilling the mist, a splendor won
Out of the world’s heart. Let there be
Thoughts, and atonements, and desires;
Proud limbs, and undeliberate tongue;
Where now we move with mortal care
Among
Immortal dews and fires.
So the old mating goes apace,Wind with the sea, and blood with thought,Lover with lover; and the graceOf understanding comes unsoughtWhen stars into the twilight steer,Or thrushes build among the may,Or wonder moves between the hills,And dayComes up on Rydal mere.
So the old mating goes apace,
Wind with the sea, and blood with thought,
Lover with lover; and the grace
Of understanding comes unsought
When stars into the twilight steer,
Or thrushes build among the may,
Or wonder moves between the hills,
And day
Comes up on Rydal mere.