noon
Anon , he came , the chieftain of that on-spurring host ! his banner blazed upon the sky ; his golden crest was seen beneath , nodding with its ruddy plumes ; over the south-eastern hills he arose in radiant armour . Fair Nature , waking at her bridegroom 's voice , arrived so early from a distant clime , smiled upon him sleepily , gladdening him in beauty with her sweet half-opened eyelids , and kissing him in faithfulness with dew-besprinkled lips . And he looked forth upon the world from his high chariot , holding back the coursers that must mount the steep of noon : and he heard the morning hymn of thankfulness to Heaven from the mountains , and the valleys , and the islands of the sea ; the prayer of man and woman , the praise of lisping tongues , the hum of insect joy upon the air , the sheep-bell tinkling in the distance , the wild bird 's carol , and the lowing kine , the mute minstrelsy of rising dews , and that stilly scarce-heard universal melody of wakeful plants and trees , hastening to turn their spring-buds to the light -- this was the anthem he , the Lord of Day , now listened to -- this was the song his influences had raised to bless the God who made him . And he saw , from his bright throne of wide derivative glory , Hope flying forth upon her morning missions , visiting the lonesome , comforting the sorrowful , speaking cheerfully to Care , and singing in the ear of Labour : and he watched that ever-welcome friend , flitting with the gleams of light to every home , to every heart ; none but gladly let her in ; her tapping finger opened the very prison doors ; the heavy head of Sloth rejoiced to hear her call ; and every common Folly , every common Sin -- ay , every common Crime -- warmed his unconscious soul before her winning beauty . Yet , yet was there one , who cursed that angel 's coming ; and the holy Eye of day wept pityingly to see an awful child of man who dared not look on Hope . The murderer stood beside his casement , watching that tranquil scene : with bloodshot eyes and haggard stare , he gazed upon the waking world ; for one strange minute he forgot , entranced by innocence and beauty ; but when the stunning tide of memory , that had ebbed that one strange minute , rolled back its mighty flood upon his mind , the murderer swooned away .