The Secret Splendour

(From the French of Jose-Maria de Heredia)

A flight of vultures from their charnel home,

Tired of the burden of proud misery,

From Palos in Moguer, with their rude reverie

Drunk, daring plunderers winged through the sea-foam,

Fire-eyed to gain the ripe and glittering ore

That golden fabulous far Zipangu mined;

But their fierce prow the heedless gale inclined

Towards the western world's mysterious shore.

Each night, dream-messenger of epic dawn.

 In a myriad miracle of enchanting hue

The phantom flame of tropic waters shone

Across the impetuous longing of their eyes.

While the dark limitless horizon threw

 A wealth of strange stars into unknown skies.

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