Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VENICE, by FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY MYERS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VENICE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Not vainly that venetian master set
Last Line: And even the soul's self dream into the day!
Alternate Author Name(s): Myers, Frederic
Subject(s): Venice, Italy


NOT vainly that Venetian Master set
'Twixt Doge and Doge the guardian Margaret
While from a soft and whirling glory smiled,
For Venice' sake, the Maiden with her Child,
And one great word the lords of Venice wist:—
"My peace be with Thee, Mark Evangelist!"—
Till for the grave enraptured kneeling man,
Grimani, or Priuli, or Loredan,
Thro' that clear vision fades, remotely fair,
The imperial City of all his earthly care,
Whose few last arches glimmer,—and all the rest
Whelmed in that thronging welcome of the Blest.

Ay, faithful heart! Thy saints were with thee then;
The race of angels is the race of men;
Their vanished light is on our vision shed,
Nor even their joy without us perfected;
Hold thou to these; on thee their grace shall flow;
They count thy coming and thy fates foreknow,—
Yea, as of old the deathless yearning share,
Love as of old, and as of old are fair.

How sleeps that City now! and far is fled
Her tale of fights outfought and Doges dead.
The flying Fames ring round her still; but she
Dreams in her melted Pearl of sky and sea.
For me too dreaming let the sunset fire
Shade the dark dome and pierce the pillared spire!
Let night and peace the cosmic promise pay,
And even the Soul's self dream into the day!





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