Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to sleep and silence.

Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
Friendliest to sleep and silence.

It was evening here,
But upon earth the very noon of night.

It was evening here,
But upon earth the very noon of night.

'Tis midnight now. The bend and broken moon,
Batter'd and black, as from a thousand battles,
Hangs read more

'Tis midnight now. The bend and broken moon,
Batter'd and black, as from a thousand battles,
Hangs silent on the purple walls of Heaven.

That hour o' night's black arch the keystane.

That hour o' night's black arch the keystane.

Midnight, and yet no eye
Through all the Imperial City closed in sleep.

Midnight, and yet no eye
Through all the Imperial City closed in sleep.

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.

The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve.
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time.

Midnight, yet not a nose
From Tower Hill to Piccadilly snored!

Midnight, yet not a nose
From Tower Hill to Piccadilly snored!

Is there not
A tongue in every star that talks with man,
And wooes him to be read more

Is there not
A tongue in every star that talks with man,
And wooes him to be wise? nor wooes in vain;
This dead of midnight is the noon of thought,
And wisdom mounts her zenith with the stars.

I stood on the bridge at midnight,
As the clocks were striking the hour,
And the moon read more

I stood on the bridge at midnight,
As the clocks were striking the hour,
And the moon rose over the city,
Behind the dark church tower.