And shoreless 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 rushing 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 assaults the shore.
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 clusters 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.
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 rushing 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 assaults the shore.
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 clusters 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.