Poems, Sacred and Moral/Ode to the Harp of Cowper
ODE[1]
TO THE HARP OF COWPER.
While empty sounds incessant ring
From many a human lyre;
Why, Harp of Cowper, sleeps thy string,
Touch'd with ethereal fire?
From many a human lyre;
Why, Harp of Cowper, sleeps thy string,
Touch'd with ethereal fire?
Unchased by yonder feeble sun,
Have vapours dank of earth
Quench'd, ere thy master's course be run,
That spark of heavenly birth?
Have vapours dank of earth
Quench'd, ere thy master's course be run,
That spark of heavenly birth?
The spark from Heaven can never die.—
Has then the hallow'd flame,
Of mortals weary, sought the sky,
Returning whence it came?
Has then the hallow'd flame,
Of mortals weary, sought the sky,
Returning whence it came?
No, never shalt thou mourn the blaze
From thy vibrations fled.
Lo, still its lambent glory plays
Around thy master's head.
From thy vibrations fled.
Lo, still its lambent glory plays
Around thy master's head.
Seest thou forlorn thy master stand
Pierced by the shaft of pain?
Hath slow disease unnerved the hand,
That woke thy holy strain?
Pierced by the shaft of pain?
Hath slow disease unnerved the hand,
That woke thy holy strain?
Yes, Pain hath bent and twang'd her bow,
And launch'd her keenest dart:
And pale disease with footstep slow
Hath mined thy master's heart.
And launch'd her keenest dart:
And pale disease with footstep slow
Hath mined thy master's heart.
O, soon may He, whose face more bright
The clouds of woe reveal,
Recal the eye's declining light,
The wounded spirit heal!
The clouds of woe reveal,
Recal the eye's declining light,
The wounded spirit heal!
Yet, for his hidden ways in vain
Our labouring thoughts explore;
Perchance He wills thy holy strain
To sound on earth no more.
Our labouring thoughts explore;
Perchance He wills thy holy strain
To sound on earth no more.
In sleep then unrepining lie,
If such be Heaven's decree,
Till, for "the twinkling of an eye"[2]
Thy master sleep with thee.
If such be Heaven's decree,
Till, for "the twinkling of an eye"[2]
Thy master sleep with thee.
A little while thy sleep prolong,
Till hence with him removed:
Then wake to raise the eternal song
Before the God he loved.
Till hence with him removed:
Then wake to raise the eternal song
Before the God he loved.