Poetry · Chapter
LXXVII explained
At half-past three, the moon rises and briefly camps on a cloud.
What happens
At half-past three, the moon rises and briefly camps on a cloud. From the earth, a lively tune of tambourines and pipes is heard. On a flowery lawn, a brilliant crowd dances in a five-part pattern, while some rest half-asleep under green-faned cedars, others doze in silken tents amid light fragrance, and some close their eyelids on the open turf.
Themes in this chapter
Dreams and Escape
The scene depicts a dreamlike revelry with dancing, repose, and dozing in a moonlit setting, suggesting escape from reality.
Beauty and Transience
The moon's brief bivouac on a cloud and the fleeting, vivid imagery of the dance and repose evoke the transient beauty of the moment.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker describes the scene from a distance, observing the moon and the revelry below.
Key passages
“At half-past three arose the cheerful moon— Bivouack’d for four minutes on a cloud—”
At 3:30 AM, the cheerful moon rose and briefly camped on a cloud for four minutes.
The moon is personified as a cheerful figure pausing momentarily on a cloud.
“Where from the earth we heard a lively tune Of tambourines and pipes, severe and loud,”
From the ground, we heard a lively, loud, and intense tune of tambourines and pipes.
The music is described as both lively and severe, emphasizing its intensity.
“While on a flowery lawn a brilliant crowd Cinque-parted danced, some half asleep reposed Beneath the green-faned cedars, some did shroud In silken tents, and ’mid light fragrance dozed, Or on the open turf their soothed eyelids closed.”
On a flower-covered lawn, a brilliant crowd danced in five-part formations, while some rested half-asleep under green-fronded cedars, others hid in silken tents and dozed amid light fragrance, and some closed their soothed eyelids on the open grass.
The scene depicts a varied group of revelers, some dancing, others resting or sleeping in different settings.