Then there appeared with robe and crown A host in heavenly guise, As all the angels had come down From Dante's Paradise; The thought of some Italian town Gave glory to their eyes. The sunset pierced them through with gold And many-colored fire, Till they as beautifully were stoled As Fra Beato's choir: A cloud of witnesses of old Called mortals to aspire. And while I wondered at the sight I heard a soft ado That, as though chanted by the light, To this clear anthem grew; "Fight ye for Freedom and for Right, But fight for Beauty, too." And as they sang this high command In evening's growing shade, The Eastward pointing of each hand A myriad gesture made; I turned, to see the skyey land Was all in rose arrayed. The Alps, the clouds, the near lagoon, Prolonged the heavenly scene, And the last breath of afternoon Lit up the brown lateen, Where lay, impatient for the moon, The Adriatic's Queen. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CUPID AND CAMPASPE, FR. ALEXANDER AND CAMPASPE by JOHN LYLY A MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY by HENRY VAN DYKE SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 31. A QUESTION by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NIGHT (STRAITS OF CARQUINEZ) by WILLIAM ROSE BENET PSALM 104 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE |