Volume IV Part 7 (1/2)

Fraught with his mandates from the realms on high, Unnumber'd hosts of radiant heralds fly; From orb to orb, with progress unconfin'd, As lightn'ing swift, resistless as the wind.

His word in air this pondr'ous ball sustain'd.

”Be fixt, he said.”--And fix'd the ball remain'd.

Heav'n, air, and sea, tho' all their stores combine.

Shake not its base, nor break the law divine.

At thy almighty voice, old ocean raves, Wakes all his force, and gathers all his waves; Nature lies mantled in a watry robe, And sh.o.r.eless ocean roils around the globe; O'er highest hills, the higher surges rise, Mix with the clouds, and leave the vaulted skies.

But when in thunder, the rebuke was giv'n, That shook th' eternal firmament of heav'n, The dread rebuke, the frighted waves obey, They fled, confus'd, along th' appointed way, Impetuous rus.h.i.+ng to the place decreed, Climb the steep hill, and sweep the humble mead: And now reluctant in their bounds subside; Th' eternal bounds restrain the raging tide: Yet still tumultuous with incessant roar, It shakes the caverns, and a.s.saults the sh.o.r.e.

By him, from mountains, cloth'd in livid snow, Thro' verdant vales, the mazy fountains flow.

Here the wild horse, unconscious of the rein, That revels boundless, o'er the wide champaign, Imbibes the silver stream, with heat opprest To cool the fervour of his glowing breast.

Here verdant boughs adorn'd with summer's pride, Spread their broad shadows o'er the silver tide: While, gently perching on the leafy spray, Each feather'd songster tunes his various lay: And while thy praise, they symphonize around, Creation ecchoes to the grateful sound.

Wide o'er the heav'ns the various bow he bends.

Its tincture brightens, and its arch extends: At the glad sign, aerial conduits flow, The hills relent, the meads rejoice below: By genial fervour, and prolific rain, Gay vegetation cloaths the fertile plain; Nature profusely good, with bliss o'er-flows, And still she's pregnant, tho' she still bestows: Here verdant pastures, far extended lie, And yield the grazing herd a rich supply!

Luxuriant waving in the wanton air, Here golden grain rewards the peasant's care!

Here vines mature, in purple cl.u.s.ters glow, And heav'n above, diffuses heav'n below!

Erect and tall, here mountain cedars rise, High o'er the clouds, and emulate the skies!

Here the winged crowds, that skim the air, with artful toil, their little dams prepare, Here, hatch their young, and nurse their rising care!

Up the steep-hill ascends the nimble doe, While timid conies scour the plains below; Or in the pendent rocks elude the scenting foe.

He bade the silver majesty of night, Revolve her circle, and increase her light.

But if one moment thou thy face should'st hide, Thy glory clouded, or thy smiles denied, Then widow'd nature veils her mournful eyes, And vents her grief, in universal cries!

Then gloomy death, with all his meagre train; Wide o'er the nations spreads his iron reign!

Sea, earth, and air, the bounteous ravage mourn, And all their hosts to native dust return!

Again thy glorious quickning influence shed, The glad creation rears its drooping head: New rising forms, thy potent smiles obey, And life re-kindles at the genial ray; United thanks replenish'd nature pays, And heaven and earth resound their Maker's praise.

When time shall in eternity be lost, And h.o.a.ry nature languish into dust, Forever young, thy glories shall remain, Vast as thy being, endless as thy reign!

Thou from the realms of everlasting day, See'st all thy works, at one immense survey!

Pleas'd at one view, the whole to comprehend, Part join'd to part, concurring to one end.

If thou to earth, but turn'st thy wrathful eyes, Her basis trembles, and her offspring dies.

Thou smit'st the hills, and at th' almighty blow, Their summits kindle, and their entrails glow.

While this immortal spark of heav'nly flame, Distends my breast, and animates my frame, To thee my ardent praises shall be born, On the first breeze, that wakes the blus.h.i.+ng morn: The latest star shall hear the pleasing sound, And nature, in full choir shall join around!

When full of thee, my soul excursive flies, Thro' earth, air, ocean or thy regal skies, From world, to world, new wonders still I find!

And all the G.o.dhead bursts upon my mind!

When, wing'd with whirlwinds, vice shall take her flight, To the wide bosom of eternal night, To thee my soul shall endless praises pay; Join! men and angels! join th' exalted day!

a.s.sign'd a province to each rolling sphere, And taught the sun to regulate the year.

At his command wide hov'ring o'er the plain, Primaeval night resumes her gloomy reign.

Then from their dens impatient of delay, The savage monsters bend their speedy way, Howl thro' the s.p.a.cious waste and chase the frighted prey.

Here walks the s.h.a.ggy monarch of the wood, Taught from thy providence to ask his food: To thee O Father! to thy bounteous skies, He rears his main, and rolls his glaring eyes.

He roars, the desarts tremble wide around!

And repercusive hills repeat the sound.