Classic Poem

The sight how grateful to the social soul,
That thus imbibes the blessings of the whole,
Joys in their joy, while each inspires his breast
With blessings multiplied from all that's blest!
Nor less yon heights the unfolding heaven display,
Its nightly twinkle, and its streaming day;
The page impress'd conspicuous on the skies,
A preface to the Book of Glory lies;
We mount the steep, high born upon delight,
While hope aspires beyond — and distances the sight.
Thus heaven and earth, whom varying graces deck,
In full proportions paint the visual speck;
So awful did the A LMIGHTY'S forming will,
Amazing texture, and stupendous skill,
The visionary net and tunics weave,
And the bright gem with lucid humours lave;
So gave the ball's collected ray to glow,
And round the pupil arch'd his radiant bow;
Full in a point unmeasured spaces lie,
And worlds inclusive dwell within our eye.
Yet useless was this textured wonder made,
Were Nature, beauteous object! undisplay'd;
Those, both as vain, the object, and the sight,
Wrapt from the radiance of revealing light;
As vain the bright illuminating beam,
Unwafted by the medium's airy stream:
Yet vain the textured eye, and object fair,
The sunny lustre, and continuous air;
Annull'd and blank this grand illustrious scene,
All, all its grace, and lifeless glories, vain;
Till from the Eternal sprung this effluent Soul,
Bless'd to inspect, and comprehend the whole!
O whence, say whence this endless Beauty springs,
This awful, dear, delightful depth of things?
Whence but from T HEE ! T HOU G REAT O NE ! T HOU D IVINE !
P LACID ! and M ILD ! A LL Gracious ! A LL B ENIGN !
T HOU Nature's P ARENT ! and S UPREME D ESIRE !
How loved the offspring! — and how bless'd the S IRE !
How ever B LESS 'd! as blessings from T HEE flow,
And spread all bounteous on Thy works below:
The reptile, wreathed in many a wanton play;
And insect, basking in the shine of day;
The grazing quadruped, and plumy choir
That earthly born to heavenly heights aspire;
All species, form'd beneath the solar beam,
That numberless adorn our future theme, —
Fed in Thy bounty, fashion'd in Thy S KILL ,
Cloath'd in Thy L OVE , instructed in Thy will,
Safe in Thy L OVE , instructed in Thy will,
Safe in Thy conduct, their unerring guide,
All-save the child of ignorance and pride —
The paths of B EAUTY and of T RUTH pursue,
And teach proud man those lectures which ensue!