Hand-book of the Lick observatory of the University of California

Front matter

HAND-BOOK

OF THE

LICK OBSERVATORY

I. Mysterious Eye, dim shrouded from the light

Bound with dark bands like Lazarus in his tomb,

Shut in by muffled doors from sight and sound

Of the world's outer life, soft speech of men,

And neigh of steed, and tramp of busy feet ;

No sound about thee save the sullen wind

That moans and raves around thy mountain crypt ;

No light save thine own inward radiance

That links thee with the space-embosomed stars :

Close-lidded sleep'st thou in thine inner court

Of dark and silence the while men do forge

With bolt and rivet and strong bands of steel,

The mighty orbit for thy wondrous sphere.

Know'st thou thy power ? Dost feel thy destiny ?

Beneath these grave-like cerements thrill'st thou not

Thro' all thy bright circumference with dim

That from gray evening till the purple dawn,

Prom dawn until the evening gray, will smite thee

With awful splendors of uncounted suns ?

O mighty Eye ! say what wilt thou reveal,

When from the tomb men Christ-like bid thee forth,

Unbind thy bands, and set thee like a star

Upon Earth's grave and cloud-encircled brow,

Lidless against intolerable light ?