Winter Night

THE stars are glittering in the frosty sky,
Numerous as pebbles on a broad sea-coast ;
While o'er the vault the cloud-like galaxy
Has marshalled its innumerable host.
Alive all heaven seems ; with wondrous glow,
Tenfold refulgent every star appears ;
As if some wide, celestial gale did blow,
And thrice illume the ever-kindled spheres.
Orbs, with glad orbs rejoicing, burning, beam,
Ray-crowned, with lambent lustre in their zones ;
Till o'er the blue, bespangled spaces seem
Angels and great archangels on their thrones ;
A host divine, whose eyes are sparkling gems,
And forms more bright than diamond diadems.