Part 114 (1/2)

49 O David, highest in the list Of worthies, on G.o.d's ways insist, The genuine word repeat!

Vain are the doc.u.ments of men, And vain the flourish of the pen That keeps the fool's conceit.

50 Praise above all--for praise prevails; Heap up the measure, load the scales, And good to goodness add: The generous soul her Saviour aids, But peevish obloquy degrades; The Lord is great and glad.

51 For Adoration all the ranks Of angels yield eternal thanks, And David in the midst; With G.o.d's good poor, which, last and least In man's esteem, thou to thy feast, O blessed bridegroom, bidst.

52 For Adoration seasons change, And order, truth, and beauty range, Adjust, attract, and fill: The gra.s.s the polyanthus checks; And polished porphyry reflects, By the descending rill.

53 Rich almonds colour to the prime For Adoration; tendrils climb, And fruit-trees pledge their gems; And Ivis, with her gorgeous vest, Builds for her eggs her cunning nest, And bell-flowers bow their stems.

54 With vinous syrup cedars spout; From rocks pure honey gus.h.i.+ng out, For Adoration springs: All scenes of painting crowd the map Of nature; to the mermaid's pap The scaled infant clings.

55 The spotted ounce and playsome cubs Run rustling 'mongst the flowering shrubs, And lizards feed the moss; For Adoration beasts embark, While waves upholding halcyon's ark No longer roar and toss.

56 While Israel sits beneath his fig, With coral root and amber sprig The weaned adventurer sports; Where to the palm the jasmine cleaves, For Adoration 'mong the leaves The gale his peace reports.

57 Increasing days their reign exalt, Nor in the pink and mottled vault The opposing spirits tilt; And by the coasting reader spied, The silverlings and crusions glide For Adoration gilt.

58 For Adoration ripening canes, And cocoa's purest milk detains The western pilgrim's staff; Where rain in clasping boughs enclosed, And vines with oranges disposed, Embower the social laugh.

59 Now labour his reward receives, For Adoration counts his sheaves To peace, her bounteous prince; The nect'rine his strong tint imbibes, And apples of ten thousand tribes, And quick peculiar quince.

60 The wealthy crops of whitening rice 'Mongst thyine woods and groves of spice, For Adoration grow; And, marshalled in the fenced land, The peaches and pomegranates stand, Where wild carnations blow.

61 The laurels with the winter strive; The crocus burnishes alive Upon the snow-clad earth: For Adoration myrtles stay To keep the garden from dismay, And bless the sight from dearth.

62 The pheasant shows his pompous neck; And ermine, jealous of a speck, With fear eludes offence: The sable, with his glossy pride, For Adoration is descried, Where frosts the waves condense.

63 The cheerful holly, pensive yew, And holy thorn, their trim renew; The squirrel h.o.a.rds his nuts: All creatures batten o'er their stores, And careful nature all her doors For Adoration shuts.

64 For Adoration, David's Psalms Lift up the heart to deeds of alms; And he, who kneels and chants, Prevails his pa.s.sions to control, Finds meat and medicine to the soul, Which for translation pants.

65 For Adoration, beyond match, The scholar bullfinch aims to catch The soft flute's ivory touch; And, careless, on the hazel spray The daring redbreast keeps at bay The damsel's greedy clutch.

66 For Adoration, in the skies, The Lord's philosopher espies The dog, the ram, and rose; The planets' ring, Orion's sword; Nor is his greatness less adored In the vile worm that glows.

67 For Adoration, on the strings The western breezes work their wings, The captive ear to soothe-- Hark! 'tis a voice--how still, and small-- That makes the cataracts to fall, Or bids the sea be smooth!

68 For Adoration, incense comes From bezoar, and Arabian gums, And from the civet's fur: But as for prayer, or e'er it faints, Far better is the breath of saints Than galbanum or myrrh.

69 For Adoration, from the down Of damsons to the anana's crown, G.o.d sends to tempt the taste; And while the luscious zest invites The sense, that in the scene delights, Commands desire be chaste.

70 For Adoration, all the paths Of grace are open, all the baths Of purity refresh; And all the rays of glory beam To deck the man of G.o.d's esteem, Who triumphs o'er the flesh.

71 For Adoration, in the dome Of Christ, the sparrows find a home; And on his olives perch: The swallow also dwells with thee, O man of G.o.d's humility, Within his Saviour's church.

72 Sweet is the dew that falls betimes, And drops upon the leafy limes; Sweet Hermon's fragrant air: Sweet is the lily's silver bell, And sweet the wakeful tapers' smell That watch for early prayer.

73 Sweet the young nurse, with love intense, Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence; Sweet when the lost arrive: Sweet the musician's ardour beats, While his vague mind's in quest of sweets, The choicest flowers to hive.