Canto CXIX

Sad Hesper o'er the buried sun

      And ready, thou, to die with him,

      Thou watchest all things ever dim

And dimmer, and a glory done:

The team is loosen'd from the wain,

      The boat is drawn upon the shore;

      Thou listenest to the closing door,

And life is darken'd in the brain.

Bright Phosphor, fresher for the night,

      By thee the world's great work is heard

      Beginning, and the wakeful bird;

Behind thee comes the greater light:

The market boat is on the stream,

      And voices hail it from the brink;

      Thou hear'st the village hammer clink,

And see'st the moving of the team.

Sweet Hesper-Phosphor, double name

      For what is one, the first, the last,

      Thou, like my present and my past,

Thy place is changed; thou art the same.