Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Dawning of the Day (Author: James Clarence Mangan)

p.27

1
  1. 'Twas a balmy summer morning
    Warm and early,
    Such as only June bestows;
    Everywhere the earth adorning,
    Dews lay pearly
    In the lily-bell and rose.

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    Up from each green leafy bosk and hollow
    Rose the blackbird's pleasant lay,
    And the soft cuckoo was sure to follow.
    'Twas the Dawning of the Day!
  2. Through the perfumed air the golden
    Bees flew round me:
    Bright fish dazzled from the sea,
    'Till medreamt some fairy olden
    World-spell bound me
    In a trance of witcherie.
    Steeds pranced round anon with stateliest housings,
    Bearing riders prankt in rich array,
    Like flushed revellers after wine-carousings—
    'Twas the Dawning of the Day!
  3. Then a strain of song was chanted,
    And the lightly
    Floating sea-nymphs drew anear.
    Then again the shore seemed haunted
    By hosts brightly
    Clad, and wielding shield and spear!
    Then came battle-shouts—and onward rushing—
    Swords and chariots, and a phantom fray.
    Then all vanished; the warm skies were blushing
    In the Dawning of the Day!
  4. Cities girt with glorious gardens
    Whose immortal
    Habitants in robes of light
    Stood, methought, as angel-wardens
    Nigh each portal,
    Now arose to daze my sight.

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    Eden spread around, revived and blooming;
    When . . . lo! as I gazed, all passed away—
    . . . I saw but black rocks looming
    In the dim chill Dawn of Day!