NOTE. The portrait prefixed to this volume is from an engrav I LIFT mine eyes, and all the windows blaze With forms of Saints and holy men who died, No more rebukes, but smiles her words of praise. And then the organ sounds, and unseen choirs Sing the old Latin hymns of peace and love And the melodious bells among the spires O'er all the house-tops and through heaven above O STAR of morning and of liberty! O bringer of the light, whose splendor shines Forerunner of the day that is to be! The voices of the city and the sea, The voices of the mountains and the pines, In their own language hear thy wondrous word, PARADISO CANTO I. THE glory of Him who moveth everything I had the power to treasure in my mind O good Apollo, for this last emprise Make of me such a vessel of thy power As giving the beloved laurel asks! One summit of Parnassus hitherto Has been enough for me, but now with both Enter into my bosom, thou, and breathe 10 15 As at the time when Marsyas thou didst draw 20 Out of the scabbard of those limbs of his. O power divine, lend'st thou thyself to me So that the shadow of the blessed realm |