Part 84 (1/2)

10 Thou from thy upper springs above, from those Chambers of rain, where heaven's large bottles lie, Dost water the parched hills, whose breaches close, Healed by the showers from high.

11 Gra.s.s for the cattle, and herbs for man's use Thou mak'st to grow; these, blessed by thee, the earth Brings forth, with wine, oil, bread; all which infuse To man's heart strength and mirth.

12 Thou giv'st the trees their greenness, even to those Cedars in Lebanon, in whose thick boughs The birds their nests build; though the stork doth choose The fir-trees for her house.

13 To the wild goats the high hills serve for folds, The rocks give conies a retiring place: Above them the cool moon her known course holds, And the sun runs his race.

14 Thou makest darkness, and then comes the night, In whose thick shades and silence each wild beast Creeps forth, and, pinched for food, with scent and sight Hunts in an eager quest.

15 The lion's whelps, impatient of delay, Roar in the covert of the woods, and seek Their meat from thee, who dost appoint the prey, And feed'st them all the week.

16 This past, the sun s.h.i.+nes on the earth; and they Retire into their dens; man goes abroad Unto his work, and at the close of day Returns home with his load.

17 O Lord my G.o.d, how many and how rare Are thy great works! In wisdom hast thou made Them all; and this the earth, and every blade Of gra.s.s we tread declare.

18 So doth the deep and wide sea, wherein are Innumerable creeping things, both small And great; there s.h.i.+ps go, and the s.h.i.+pmen's fear, The comely, s.p.a.cious whale.

19 These all upon thee wait, that thou mayst feed Them in due season: what thou giv'st they take; Thy bounteous open hand helps them at need, And plenteous meals they make.

20 When thou dost hide thy face, (thy face which keeps All things in being,) they consume and mourn: When thou withdraw'st their breath their vigour sleeps, And they to dust return.

21 Thou send'st thy Spirit forth, and they revive, The frozen earth's dead face thou dost renew.

Thus thou thy glory through the world dost drive, And to thy works art true.

22 Thine eyes behold the earth, and the whole stage Is moved and trembles, the hills melt and smoke With thy least touch; lightnings and winds that rage At thy rebuke are broke.

23 Therefore as long as thou wilt give me breath I will in songs to thy great name employ That gift of thine, and to my day of death Thou shalt be all my joy.

24 I'll spice my thoughts with thee, and from thy word Gather true comforts; but the wicked liver Shall be consumed. O my soul, bless thy Lord!

Yea, bless thou him for ever!

THE TIMBER.

1 Sure thou didst flourish once! and many springs, Many bright mornings, much dew, many showers Pa.s.sed o'er thy head; many light hearts and wings, Which now are dead, lodged in thy living bowers.

2 And still a new succession sings and flies; Fresh groves grow up, and their green branches shoot Towards the old and still-enduring skies, While the low violet thrives at their root.

3 But thou, beneath the sad and heavy line Of death, doth waste all senseless, cold, and dark; Where not so much as dreams of light may s.h.i.+ne, Nor any thought of greenness, leaf, or bark.

4 And yet, as if some deep hate and dissent, Bred in thy growth betwixt high winds and thee, Were still alive, thou dost great storms resent, Before they come, and know'st how near they be.

5 Else all at rest thou liest, and the fierce breath Of tempests can no more disturb thy ease; But this thy strange resentment after death Means only those who broke in life thy peace.

6 So murdered man, when lovely life is done, And his blood freezed, keeps in the centre still Some secret sense, which makes the dead blood run At his approach that did the body kill.

7 And is there any murderer worse than sin?

Or any storms more foul than a lewd life?

Or what resentient can work more within Than true remorse, when with past sins at strife?

8 He that hath left life's vain joys and vain care, And truly hates to be detained on earth, Hath got an house where many mansions are, And keeps his soul unto eternal mirth.