Just as the ocean cradles our earth's orb, br This earthly life's by dreams surrounded; br Night falls, against the shore br The waters beat in roaring waves. br br This is its voice: it beckons us and calls . . . br The magic bark is stirring in its mooring; br The tide swells up and sweeps us rapidly away br Into the fathomless dark waves. br br The heavenly vault, ablaze with glorious stars, br Gazes inscrutably out of the depths br And we sail on, surrounded on all sides br By the abyss in flames.