LORD of the deathless Gods, howsoever men name Thee, Almighty God, prime Ruler of Nature, through high law governing all things, Hail! since Thy will permits that Thy mortal creatures address Thee, For from Thee our Race is sprung, and is fashioned after Thy image, Alone of all mortal things that live and move under heaven. Thee therefore alone will I hymn, Thy might will I celebrate always! Thee the Cosmical Order which whirls around earth in its orbit Obeys wheresoever Thou leadest, and willingly follows Thy guidance! For in Thy resistless hands so strong a weapon Thou wieldest, At whose dread stroke all things in Nature tremble with terror -- A two-edged fiery brand, the living bolt of Thy lightning! With might Thou directest aright Thy pervading Word, which thro' all things Pulses, commingling alike with the greater lights and the lesser. Spirit! There is no deed that is done on earth's circuit without Thee, Nor in Thy wondrous ethereal sphere, nor on Thy wide ocean, Save only the wrongs which the wicked commit of their own unwisdom. Wise art Thou too to redress the uneven lot by the even; Bringest to order, disorder, and givest Thy love to the loveless; For thus Thou hast fitted together all things, the good with the evil, So that there is over all, one Word and Reason Eternal, Which the wicked flee, or seeing avoid, unhappy! ill-fated! Ay, and those too whose desire is for good, and yearn to possess it, Either discern not Thy law universal, or, knowing it, heed not, While if they had but obeyed, heart and mind, their lives had grown noble. Surely all men set forth without guidance on varying courses! Some with precipitate haste on the difficult struggle for glory; Some without shame, with their faces steadfastly turned towards riches, Some to enjoyment alone, and the pleasant works of the body; Hurrying on, every one, on the opposite way to their wishes! But, oh Lord! Giver of all! cloud enshrouded! Ruler of lightning, Ward off from men, of Thy mercy, the bitter curse of unwisdom! Father, disperse from the soul that thick darkness, and give them to compass Wisdom, by whose strong aid Thou with righteousness governest all things, So that we, honoured of Thee, may in turn requite Thee with honour, Praising Thy wonderful works evermore as is fitting for mortals, Seeing that no higher reward comes to any on earth or in heaven Than to hymn Thy cosmical Law, which ruleth with Justice for ever. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ARMAGEDDON by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON LOVELIGHT by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE RETURN (2) by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON THE CRANES OF IBYCUS by EMMA LAZARUS SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JUDGE SELAH LIVELY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS SONNET: 50 by GEORGE SANTAYANA ELEGY: THE LAMENT OF EDWARD BLASTOCK; FOR RICHARD ROWLEY by EDITH SITWELL |