The book of earth

by Alfred Noyes

Breaks the lost splendour from the world’s blind womb.

Courage, O conquering soul!

For all the boundless night that whelms thee now,

Though suns and stars into oblivion roll,

The gods abide, and of their race art thou.

II. THE EXILE

Time dwindled to a shadow. The grey mist,

Wreathed with old legends, drifted slowly away

From the clear hill-top, where the invisible wings

Had brought me through the years.