Metaphor for the night sky: A trillion asterisks and no explanations. – Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com

These blessed candles of the night. – William Shakespeare, referring to stars, Merchant of Venice

Day, like a weary pilgrim, had reached the western gate of heaven, and Evening stooped down to unloose the latchets of his sandal shoon. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Hyperion

If the Stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile. – Ralph Waldo Emerson