Classic Poem

Divine Name, brief and compendious,
which earth bows down before and heaven adores,
which makes the realm of night to tremble, appalled;
yoke set upon the mocking serpent's neck,
unfathomable ocean sea of virtues,
lettered epitome of endless might:
Divine Name, contrived
by Sapience to embolden
man's dumb and halting tongue:
and if mine own, albeit plain and rude,
partake of thy sweetness in its purposes,
then by thy grace and on propitious wing
its accents unto heaven will ascend.

Divine Name, sweetness, tenderness,
salvation, bounty, life, light, peace,
lettered promise of security;
snow that appeases the lascivious fire,
honey that rids the mouth of bitterness,
salve that brings healing to the mortal wound:
Divine Name, life
that gives life to the dead,
bulwark of man's faith
in the promise, given in the name of God,
that his old forfeiture shall be redeemed;
and, by this name alone,
such credit it commands,
trust dwells among men.

Divine Name, I know no instrument
nor any suavity of harmonious strains
that so uplifts the downcast soul
as the voice uttering
thy sweetness: for there is no heart
so hard but softens to thy tender sound.
Name in truth divine,
for in thy company
my soul makes bold
— when on it soft and loving thus thou stealest —
to stay the pains of hell:
and those in torment thou assuagest not,
because not lovingly,
but rigorously thou strikest on their ears.

Divine Name, no more:
all else were but to offend thee.
The tongue be quiet and the heavens still;
and so, in silence, on the lowly earth
— since mortal speech is powerless to praise thee
in more exalted mode —
the only care of all be to adore thee.