midnight
`` There take thy stand , my spirit ; -- spread The world of shadows at thy feet ; And mark how calmly overhead , The stars , like saints in glory , meet . While , hid in solitude sublime , Methinks I muse on Nature 's tomb , And hear the passing foot of Time Step through the silent gloom . `` All in a moment , crash on crash , From precipice to precipice , An avalanche 's ruins dash Down to the nethermost abyss , Invisible ; the ear alone Pursues the uproar till it dies ; Echo to Echo , groan for groan , From deep to deep , replies . `` Silence again the darkness seals , Darkness that may be felt ; -- but soon The silver-clouded east reveals The midnight spectre of the moon ; In half-eclipse she lifts her horn , Yet , o'er the host of heaven supreme , Brings the faint semblance of a morn , With her awakening beam . `` Ah ! at her touch , these Alpine heights Unreal mockeries appear ; With blacker shadows , ghastlier lights , Emerging as she climbs the sphere ; A crowd of apparitions pale ! I hold my breath in chill suspense , They seem so exquisitely frail , Lest they should vanish hence .