“As when the Moon, refulgent lamp of night, O’er heaven’s clear azure sheds her sacred light; When not a breath disturbs the deep serene, And not a cloud o’ercasts the solemn scene; Around her throne the vivid planets roll, And stars unnumbered gild the glowing pole; O’er the dark trees a yellower verdure shed, And tip with silver every mountain’s head; Then shine the vales; the rocks in prospect rise; A flood of glory bursts from all the skies; The conscious swains rejoicing in the sight, Eye the blue vault, and bless the useful light.” The wise Son of Sirach, although his writings are not admitted into the sacred canon, deserves to be heard on this subject. He says, “The Lord made the moon also to serve in her season, for a declaration of times, and a sign of the world. From the moon is the sign of feasts, a light decreaseth in her perfection. The month is called after her name, increasing wonderfully in her changing, being an instrument of the armies above, shining in the firmament of heaven; the beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light to the highest places of the Lord. At the commandment of the Holy One they will stand in their order, and never faint in their watches.” This is paraphrased with great elegance and spirit by Mr. Broome: “By thy command the moon, as day-light fades, Lifts her broad circle in the deep’ning shades; Arrayed in glory, and enthroned in light, She breaks the solemn terrors of the night; Sweetly inconstant in her varying flame, She changes still, another, yet the same! Now in decrease, by slow degrees she shrouds Her fading lustre in a vale of clouds; Now of increase, her gathering beams display A blaze of light, and give a paler day; Ten thousand stars adorn her glittering train, Fall when she falls, and rise with her again; And o’er the deserts of the sky unfold Their burning spangles of sidereal gold: Through the wide heavens she moves serenely bright, Queen of the gay attendants of the night: Orb above orb in sweet confusion lies, And with a bright disorder paints the skies.”