As an almighty night doth pass away From an old ruinous city in a desart, And all its cloudy wrecks sink into day: While every monstrous shape and ghostly wizard, That dwelled within the cavernous old place, Grows pale, and shrinks, and dies in its dismay: And then the light comes in, and flowery grace Covers the sand, and man doth come again And live rejoicing in the new-born plain: So you have seen great, gloomy centuries, (The shadow of Rome's Death,) in which did dwell The men of Europe, shudder and arise: So you have seen break up that smoke of Hell, Like a great superstitious snake, uncurled From the pale temples of the awakening world. |