It kindles all my soul - Casimir of Poland

It kindles all my soul, 

       My country's loveliness! These starry choirs
       That watch around the pole, 

And the moon's tender light, and heavenly fires,
       Through golden halls that roll. 

O chorus of the night! O planets, sworn
       The music of the spheres 

To follow! Lovely watchers, that think scorn
       To rest till day appears! 

Me, for celestial homes of glory born, —
       Why here, oh why so long, 

Do ye behold an exile from on high?
       Here, O ye shining throng, 

With lilies spread the mound where I shall lie!
       Here let me drop my chain. 

And, dust to dust returning, cast away
       The trammels that remain; 

The rest of me shall spring to endless day!

---

Casimir of Poland [Casimir III the Great] (1310 - 1370) Poland
Translated by R. C. Trench
Source: Songs of the soul: gathered out of many lands and ages, Samuel Irenaeus Prime, Robert Carter and Brothers, 1874