THE AURORA

Night in purple fringed with the faintest crimson

Conquered the slowly paling glow of sunset;

Softly the western light expired; and yet

Came there no stars forth —

O'er the tow'ring cliffs and the vales and waters,

O'er the whisp'ring woodland of swaying hemlocks,

O'er the streamlets trickling down on the crag-rocks,

Came there no moon forth.

Rose in distance, a dim and fearful spectre;

Rose, accompanied by the forest's singing,

An omen of evil, certainty bringing

Of the divine wroth —

Far from northern forests descends some army;

Far in the heavens, their fires are reflected;

Waver the lights in an archway collected,

Sign of divine wroth —

Shines the arch in a flick'ring wavy brilliance;

Lighting earth from its quivering span of silver;

Shines the Aurora soft o'er lake and river,

Shines from the far north.