Classic Poem

What means this sudden change from glitt'ring light,
To sullen sadness, and the gloom of night;
Whilst o'er the lofty hills and humble plains,
A dread inspiring solemn silence reigns?
Foreboding pangs the trembling heart invade,
And every soul with terror is dismay'd.
See from the east, with what a rapid force,
The livid slash directs its flaming course!
Hark! how the thunder's loud tremendous roar,
In rattling peals rebounds from shore to shore;
In bursting cataracts the rains descend,
And sire, air, water, in confusion blend;
Earth, to her centre, shakes beneath the blast,
And trembling nature seems to groan her last!
Guilt shrinks appall'd, vice quakes with awful dread,
And every crime conceals its frighted head;
For whilst the light'ning's blaze, and thunders roll,
Tormenting conscience racks the guilty soul.
Amidst the dreadful havock of the storm,
Virtue alone retains her wonted form;
With calm serenity she lifts her eyes,
Sees sheets of sulphur flashing thro' the skies;
No storms, no raging tempests, can controul
The native greatness of her stedfast soul;
Nay, even when time's grand period shall arrive,
Fair virtue still immortal shall survive,
Unmov'd by dangers, and unaw'd by fears,
She'll see the planets falling from their spheres;
Hear the astonish'd world's foundations crack,
And nature sink a universal wrack.
O thou, whose powerful hand with terror hurl'd
These flaming bolts, to shake a guilty world,
Do thou this fair celestial guardian send,
To be my kind protector, and my friend;
To guide my thoughtless inexperienced youth,
Thro' the too unfrequented paths of truth,
And teach me here below t' aspire above,
To thy bright mansions of eternal love!