In visions of the dark night 
 I have dreamed of joy departed 
 But a waking dream of life and light 
 Have left me broken-hearted 
    Ah! What is not a dream by day 
 To him whose eyes are cast 
 On things around him with a ray 
 Turned back upon the past?   
 That holy dream that holy dream 
 While all the world were chiding 
 Childing   
 What though that light, thro' storm and night 
 So trembled from afar 
 What could there be more purely bright 
 In truth's day-star?   
 That holy dream that holy dream 
 While all the world were chiding 
 Childing 
 Hath cheered me as a lovely beam 
 A lonely spirit guiding   
 That holy dream that holy dream 
 A lonely spirit guiding