III.

The sunset's purple splendors fade,

The dark'ning shades of twilight fall,

The moonbeam's silver touch is laid

On sculptur'd saint and pictur'd wall;

And while the weeping watcher kneels,

And silence weaves her magic spells,

The gray dawn thro' the oriel steals,

And morning wakes the matin-bells.

Advent, 1872.