May not their flesh have sealed that fount of glory, That pure ninth sense which told us of mankind? Can some deep sleep bereave them of our story As darkness hides all colours from the blind? JUPITER I that am sailing deeper skies and dimmer, Twelve million leagues beyond the path of Mars, Salute the sun, that cloudy pearl, whose glimmer Renews my spring and steers me through the stars. Think not that I by distances am darkened. My months are years; yet light is in mine eyes. Mine eyes are not as yours. Mine ears have hearkened To sounds from earth. Five moons enchant my skies. SATURN And deeper yet, like molten opal shining My belt of rainbow glory softly streams. And seven white moons around me intertwining Hide my vast beauty in a mist of dreams. Huge is my orbit; and your flickering planet A mote that flecks your sun, that faint white star; Yet, in my magic pools, I still can scan it; For I have ways to look on worlds afar. URANUS And deeper yet--twelve million leagues of twilight Divide mine empire even from Saturn's ken. Is there a world whose light is not as my light, A midget world of light-imprisoned men? Shut from this inner vision that hath found me, They hunt bright shadows, painted to betray; And know not that, because their night hath drowned me, My giants walk with gods in boundless day. NEPTUNE Plunge through immensity anew and find me. Though scarce I see your sun,--that dying spark-- Across a myriad leagues it still can bind me To my sure path, and steer me through the dark. I sail through vastness, and its rhythms hold me, Though threescore earths could in my volume sleep! Whose are the might and music that enfold me? Whose is the law that guides me thro' the Deep? THE SUN _I hear their song. They wheel around my burning! I know their orbits; but what path have I? I that with all those worlds around me turning Sail, every hour, ten thousand leagues of sky?_ _My planets, these live embers of my passion, And I, too, filled with music and with flame. Flung thro' the night, for midnight to refashion, Praise and forget the Splendour whence we came._ EPILOGUE