SOFTLY , Evening shades the skies,
Quick the golden lustre flies;
Calm we see the day retire,
While Evening’s sober thoughts inspire.
Pensive pleasures she bestows,
Round her shadowy mantle throws;
Thought imbibes her sombre hue,
All her pleasures we pursue:
Guarded by this solemn shade,
Nothing shall her realm invade.
When the toils of day are o’er,
Then we bid the spirit soar;
Earthly cares impede its flight,
And shade the lustre once so bright;
Cloud the soul and fix it here,
Prisoner in this narrow sphere;
But when Evening shades the skies,
Then the thoughts spontaneous rise.
When we see the deepening shade,
Earth, and sea, and sky, pervade;
And behold the gems of night
Pour around their streams of light;
Who shall nature’s works inspect,
And the ruling God reject?
Who that sees their certain laws
Can deny the Sov’reign Cause?
Evening draws the scatter’d mind
To a circle more confin’d;
And when darkness veils the scene,
We search the mental world within.
What a prospect meets our eyes!
How the long perspectives rise!
Scenes in quick succession roll,
When we dive into the soul:
Ev’ry motive duly scan,
And behold the wonder, man!
Conscience, now, exert thy power!
Teach us to improve each hour;
All our wand’ring thoughts controul,
Sway thy sceptre o’er our soul,
That thy own approving smile
May sorrow’s future hours beguile.
(Elizabeth Bath)
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