O'er the Lake's placid bosom, for hush'd was the night, With its fires all unclouded the Firmament glow'd; And saw kindred fires dart an emulous light, Deep sunk in their fathomless crystal abode.
No screech-owl disturb'd the repose of the wood; No watch-dog foreboded disquiet and harm; No torrent, in cataracts hurling its flood, With Fancy's calm dreams blended noise and alarm.
Illustration from 'Poems, Sacred and Moral' by Thomas Gisborne, third edition published in 1803
A sound by yon rock, nor uncheck'd nor supprest, As from lips half unconscious escaping was heard.
One streamlet remote, from the margin that fell, On the ear stealing soft in low murmur complain'd: Yet the murmur but seem'd the more clearly to tell By a contrast so gentle the stillness that reign'd.
A sound by yon rock, nor uncheck'd nor supprest, As from lips half unconscious escaping was heard; Then, as rapt meditation expanded the breast, Clear, strong, and unbroken the descant recurr'd.
"Yes, Morn, when emergent she crimsons the sea, "And Noon, throned on high when she scorches the plain, "And Eve, when she fades from each glimmering tree, "And Night, with new worlds when she spangles her train:
"All, glorious all! Hark, in turn they declare "The fount, whence the tide of resplendency flows! "How glorious they in their mansions of air! "How glorious He, who such glory bestows!
"On the wings of the whirlwind He measures the sky, "Now viewless in light, now in darkness array'd; "O'er Creation expands his unslumbering eye, "And in wisdom controls what in wisdom he made.
"He bids the red thunderbolt sleep in its cloud, "While calmly it floats o'er the head of the just; "But wings it with rage at the crest of the proud, "Brings him down, lays him low, brings him down to the dust.
"King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of heav'n, as of earth, "Supreme, as in wisdom, in might and in love! Thy sheltering hand overshadow'd my birth, "And hung o'er my childhood a shield from above.
"When borne on the treacherous current of youth, Thy love steer'd my bark, and made tranquil the stream; "Unfolded benignant the lamp of thy Truth, "And bade me, tho' trembling, rejoice in the beam.
"To the bright shore of Manhood when eager I flew, "And, with novelty charm'd, the gay landscape survey'd; "To a lone valley pointing thy Love bade me view "How soft was the verdure, how peaceful the shade;
"Bade my feet from its confines aspire not to stray, "Bade me trace its pure brook, nor the streamlet disdain; "Bade me learn (may I learn!) from the emblem my way "In silence to hold, yet to hold not in vain.
"O Father! for now from her orbit the year, "Ere yon fires set again, shall her speed have withdrawn; "And another with pinions unfurl'd her career "Stands prepared to begin at the peep of the dawn;
"O, frown not, her tribute while gratitude pays, "And hails Thee with rapture the Lord of her doom; "If Hope, still confiding, her accent should raise, "And plead with Thee, Father, for mercy to come!
"Be the year now at hand as the day that is past!— "As the Sun rose this morn in calm lustre array'd, "So rise the new year by no grief overcast, "No turbulent storm of misfortune dismay'd!
"On the splendour of noon no obscurity stole, "Save the dim flitting cloud, that but temper'd the ray: "So if Sorrow must darken the months as they roll, "O, mild be her shadows, and passing her sway!
"As the Moonlight now slumbers on wood, hill, and plain, "And in silence the winds and the waters repose; "So may Peace shed her beams on the year in its wane, "So bright be its evening, so tranquil its close!
"And when morn and eve I no longer behold, "When days, months, and years, Lord, I number no more; "In the arms of thy mercy thy servant enfold, "Thy Works to contemplate, thy Name to adore!
"Oh! cleansed in His blood, who on Calvary groan'd, "In His merits array'd my unworthiness see; "For the least of his brethren[1] thy Son hath aton'd: "Be through ages eternal a Father to me!"
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