Henry Charles Beeching, ed. (1859–1919). Lyra Sacra: A Book of Religious Verse. 1903.
By Joseph Addison (16721719)An Ode
THE SPACIOUS firmament on high, | |
With all the blue ethereal sky, | |
And spangled heavens, a shining frame, | |
Their great Original proclaim. | |
The unwearied sun, from day to day, | 5 |
Does his Creator’s power display; | |
And publishes to every land | |
The work of an Almighty hand. | |
Soon as the evening shades prevail, | |
The moon takes up the wondrous tale, | 10 |
And nightly to the listening earth | |
Repeats the story of her birth; | |
Whilst all the stars that round her burn, | |
And all the planets in their turn, | |
Confirm the tidings as they roll, | 15 |
And spread the truth from pole to pole. | |
What though in solemn silence all | |
Move round the dark terrestrial ball? | |
What though no real voice nor sound | |
Amidst their radiant orbs be found? | 20 |
In Reason’s ear they all rejoice, | |
And utter forth a glorious voice; | |
For ever singing as they shine, | |
“The hand that made us is divine.” | |