NOX NOCTI INDICAT SCIENTIAM.-DAVID. WHEN I survey the bright Celestial sphere, So rich with jewels hung, that night My soul her wings doth spread, And heavenward flies, Th' Almighty's mysteries to read In the large volume of the skies. For the bright firmament Shoots forth no flame So silent, but is eloquent In speaking the Creator's name. No unregarded star Contracts its light Into so small a character, Removed far from our human sight, But, if we stedfast look, We shall discern In it, as in some holy book, How man may heavenly knowledge learn. It tells the conqueror, That far-stretched power, Which his proud dangers traffic for, Is but the triumph of an hour. That from the farthest north Some nations may, Yet undiscovered, issue forth, And o'er his new-got conquest sway. Some nation, yet shut in With hills of ice, May be let out to scourge his sin, Till they shall equal him in vice. And then they likewise shall Their ruin have; For, as yourselves, your empires fall, Thus those celestial fires, Though seeming mute, The fallacy of our desires, And all the pride of life, confute. For they have watched since first And found sin in itself accursed, And nothing permanent on earth. LAUDATE DOMINUM DE CELIS.-DAVID. You Spirits! who have thrown away That envious weight of clay, Which your celestial flight denied ; Who by your glorious troops supply The winged hierarchy, So broken in the angel's pride! O you! whom your Creator's sight Sing forth the triumphs of his name; All you enamoured souls, agree In a loud symphony, To give expression to your flame! To Him his own great works relate, Who deigned to elevate You 'bove the frailty of your birth, Where you stand safe from that rude war With which we troubled are, By the rebellion of our earth. While a corrupted air beneath Here in this world we breathe, Each hour some passion us assails. Now lust casts wildfire in the blood, Or, that it may seem good, Itself in wit or beauty veils. Then envy circles us with hate, No heavenly succour enters in: Made forfeit of itself to sin. Assaulted thus, how dare we raise Who is eternal and immense? So far above the search of sense? O you! who are immaculate, In your soul's bright expansion: That ever with Him you now shine one. While we who to earth contract our hearts, And only study arts To shorten the sad length of time, In place of joys, bring humble fears, For hymns, repentant tears, And a new sigh, for every crime. While a corrupted air beneath Here in this world we breathe, Each hour some passion us assaris. Now lust casts wildfire in the blood, Or, that it may seem good, Itself in wit or beanty veils. While we who to earth contract our beats And only study arts To shorten the sad length of time In nof joys, bring humble fears, |