In visions of the dark night

        I have dreamed of joy departed —

But a waking dream of life and light

        Hath left me broken-hearted.

Ah! what is not a dream by day

        To him whose eyes are cast

On things around him with a ray

        Turned back upon the past?

That holy dream – that holy dream,

        While all the world were chiding,

Hath cheered me as a lovely beam

        A lonely spirit guiding.

What though that light, thro’ storm and night,

        So trembled from afar —

What could there be more purely bright

        In Truth’s day-star?