Love can sun the Realms of Night-- Orcus owns the magic might-- Peaceful where She sits beside, Smiles the swart King on his Bride; Hell feels the smile in sudden light-- Love can sun the Realms of Night. Heavenly o'er the startled Hell, Holy, where the Accursed dwell, O Thracian, went thy silver song! Grim Minos, with unconscious tears, Melts into mercy as he hears-- The serpents in Megara's hair, Kiss, as they wreathe enamour'd there; All harmless rests the madding thong;-- From the torn breast the Vulture mute Flies, scared before the charmèd lute-- Lull'd into sighing from their roar The dark waves woo the listening shore-- Listening the Thracian's silver song!-- Love was the Thracian's silver song!
Blessed through love are the Gods above-- Through love like a God may man be; Heavenlier through love is the heaven above-- Through love like a heaven earth can be!
Through Nature blossom-strewing, _One_ footstep we are viewing, One flash from golden pinions!-- If from Heaven's starry sea, If from the moonlit sky; If from the Sun's dominions, Look'd not Love's laughing eye; Then Sun and Moon and Stars would be Alike, without one smile for me! But, oh, wherever Nature lives Below, around, above-- Her happy eye the mirror gives To thy glad beauty, Love!
Love sighs through brooklets silver-clear, Love bids their murmur woo the vale; Listen, O list! Love's soul ye hear In his own earnest nightingale. No sound from Nature ever stirs, But Love's sweet voice is heard with hers! Bold Wisdom, with her sunlit eye, Retreats when love comes whispering by-- For Wisdom's weak to love! To victor stern or monarch proud, Imperial Wisdom never bow'd The knee she bows to Love! Who through the steep and starry sky, Goes onward to the gods on high, Before thee, hero-brave? Who halves for thee the land of Heaven; Who shows thy heart, Elysium, given Through the flame-rended Grave? Below, if we were blind to Love, Say, should we soar o'er Death, above? Would the weak soul, did Love forsake her, E'er gain the wing to seek the Maker? Love, only Love, can guide the creature Up to the Father-fount of Nature; What were the soul did Love forsake her? Love guides the Mortal to the Maker!
Blessed through love are the Gods above-- Through love like a God may man be: Heavenlier through love is the heaven above, Through love like a heaven earth can be!