quote · Legacy record
How shall the harp of poesy regain That old victorious tone of prophet-years— A spell divine o’er guilt’s perturbing fears, And all the hovering shadows of the brain? Dark, evil wings took flight before the strain, And showers of holy quiet, with its fall, Sank on the soul:—O, who may now recall The mighty music’s consecrated reign?— Spirit of God! whose glory once o’erhung A throne, the Ark’s dread cherubim between, So let Thy presence brood, though now unseen, O’er those two powers by whom the harp is strung— Feeling and thought!—till the rekindled chords Give the long-buried tone back to immortal words.
How shall the harp of poesy regain That old victorious tone of prophet-years— A spell divine o’er guilt’s perturbing fears, And all the hovering shadows of the brain? Dark, evil wings took flight before the strain, And showers of holy quiet, with its fall, Sank on the soul:—O, who may now recall The mighty music’s consecrated reign?— Spirit of God! whose glory once o’erhung A throne, the Ark’s dread cherubim between, So let Thy presence brood, though now unseen, O’er those two powers by whom the harp is strung— Feeling and thought!—till the rekindled chords Give the long-buried tone back to immortal words.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Mrs. Hemans (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 410 · printed citation: Mrs. Hemans · subject: MUSIC
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.