AN HOUR ere sudden sunset fired the west, <br />Arose two stars upon the pale deep east. <br />The hall of heaven was clear for night’s high feast, <br />Yet was not yet day’s fiery heart at rest <br />Love leapt up from his mother’s burning breast <br />To see those warm twin lights, as day decreased, <br />Wax wider, till when all the sun had ceased <br />As suns they shone from evening’s kindled crest <br />Across them and between, a quickening fire, <br />Flamed Venus, laughing with appeased desire. <br />Their dawn, scarce lovelier for the gleam of tears, <br />Filled half the hollow shell ’twixt heaven and earth <br />With sound like moonlight, mingling moan and mirth, <br />Which rings and glitters down the darkling years.<br /><br />Algernon Charles Swinburne<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/beaumont-and-fletcher-iv/
