| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 79. Music of the Night |
| | | By John Neal |
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| THERE are harps that complain to the presence of night, | |
| To the presence of night alone— | |
| In a near and unchangeable tone— | |
| Like winds, full of sound, that go whispering by, | |
| As if some immortal had stooped from the sky, | 5 |
| And breathed out a blessing—and flown! | |
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| Yes! harps that complain to the breezes of night, | |
| To the breezes of night alone; | |
| Growing fainter and fainter, as ruddy and bright | |
| The sun rolls aloft in his drapery of light, | 10 |
| Like a conqueror, shaking his brilliant hair | |
| And flourishing robe, on the edge of the air! | |
| Burning crimson and gold | |
| On the clouds that unfold, | |
| Breaking onward in flame, while an ocean divides | 15 |
| On his right and his left. So the Thunderer rides, | |
| When he cuts a bright path through the heaving tides, | |
| Rolling on, and erect, in a charioting throne! | |
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| Yes! strings that lie still in the gushing of day, | |
| That awake, all alive, to the breezes of night; | 20 |
| There are hautboys and flutes too, forever at play | |
| When the evening is near, and the sun is away, | |
| Breathing out the still hymn of delight; | |
| These strings by invisible fingers are played— | |
| By spirits, unseen and unknown, | 25 |
| But thick as the stars, all this music is made; | |
| And these flutes, alone, | |
| In one sweet dreamy tone, | |
| Are ever blown, | |
| Forever and forever. | 30 |
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| The live-long night ye hear the sound, | |
| Like distant waters flowing round | |
| In ringing caves, while heaven is sweet | |
| With crowding tunes, like halls | |
| Where fountain-music falls, | 35 |
| And rival minstrels meet. | |
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