I
Once, when as ever since the world began,
Dawn touched the silver level of the sea,
And like a golden shield of growing span
Crept on the land of twilight stealthily;
The Sun, yet sunk below his eastern lea,
Whence all the heavenly limits he could mark,
As Perseus through Medusa’s locks, in glee
Shot all his shining fingers through the Dark,
And once more laid the monster motionless and stark.