'Star of descending night!'
How lovely is thy beam;
How softly pours thy silv'ry light,
O'er the bright glories of the west,
As now the sun sunk to his rest,
Sends back his parting stream
Of golden splendor, like a zone
Of beauty, o'er the horizon!
'Star of descending night!'
First of the sparkling train,
That gems the sky, I hail thy light;
And as I watch thy peaceful ray,
That sweetly spreads o'er fading day,
I think and think again,
That thou art some fair orb of light,
Where spirits bask in glory bright.
'Star of descending night!'
Oft hast thou met my gaze,
When evening's calm and mellow light,
Invited to the secret bower,
To spend with God the tranquil hour,
In grateful pray'r and praise,—
Then thy soft ray so passing sweet,
Has beamed around my hallowed seat.
And I have loved thee, star!
When in night's diadem,
I saw thee lovelier, brighter, far
Than all the stellate worlds, and thought
Of that great star the wise men sought,
And came to Bethlehem,
To view the infant Saviour's face,
The last bright hope of Adam's race. |