Scar'd at thy frown terrific, fly Wild laughter, noise, and thoughtless joy, Light they disperse; and with them go. By vain prosperity receiv'd, To her they vow their truth, and are again believ'd. Wisdom, in sable garb array'd, With leaden eye that loves the ground, And pity, dropping soft the sadly-pleasing tear. Oh, gently, on thy suppliant's head, Not in thy gorgon terrors clad, (As by the impious thou art seen,) Thy form benign, propitious, wear, What others are to feel; and know myself a man. GRAY. SECTION XIV. The creation required to praise its Author. BEGIN, my soul, th' exalted lay! Let each enraptur'd thought obey, And praise th' Almighty's name: Lo! heaven and earth, and seas and skies, In one melodious concert rise, To swell th' inspiring theme. Ye fields of light, celestial plains, Your Maker's wond'rous pow'r proclaim, Ye angels, catch the thrilling sound! Let ev'ry list'ning saint above And touch the sweetest string. Join, ye loud spheres, the vocal choir; Soon as gray evening gilds the plain, Thou heav'n of heav'ns, his vast abode; Who call'd yon worlds from night: "Ye shades dispel!"-th' Eternal said; At once th' involving darkness fled, And nature sprung to light. Whate'er a blooming world contains, That wings the air, that skims the plains, Ye dragons, sound his awful name Let ev'ry element rejoice; Ye thunders burst with awful voice To him, ye graceful cedars, bow; Tell, when affrighted nature shook,. And trembled at his frown. Ye flocks that haunt the humble vale, Wake all ye mounting tribes, and sing;. Harmonious anthems raise TO HIM who shap'd your finer mould, Let man, by nobler passions sway'd, In heav'nly praise employ ; Till heav'n's broad arch rings back the sound, Ye whom the charms of grandeur please, Fall prostrate at his throne: Ye princes, rulers, all adore; Praise him, ye kings, who makes your pow'r Ye fair, by nature forin'd to move, O praise th' eternal SOURCE OF LOVE, Let age take up the tuneful lay, Sigh his bless'd name-then soar away, And ask an angel's lyre. SECTION XV. The universal prayer. FATHER OF ALL! in ev'ry age, In ev'ry clime, ador'd, By saint, by savage, and by sage, Jehovah, Jove, or Lord! OGILVIE. Thou GREAT FIRST CAUSE, least understood, Who all my sense confin'd To know but this, that Thou art good, And that myself am blind; Yet gave me, in this dark estate, To see the good from ill; And binding nature fast in fate, What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teach me more than hell to shun, That more than heav'n pursue. What blessings thy free bounty gives, Let me not cast away; For God is paid, when man receives; Yet not to earth's contracted span Let not this weak, unknowing hand If I am right, thy grace impart, If I am wrong, oh teach my heart Save me alike from foolish pride, At aught thy wisdom has denied, Teach me to feel another's wo, Mean tho' I am, not wholly so, Since quicken'd by thy breath: O lead me wheresoe'er I go, Thro' this day's life or death! |