Ode: “The spacious firmament on high”

Joseph Addison (1672–1719)

From “The Spectator”

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,

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,

And nightly to the listening earth

Repeats the story of her birth;

While all the stars that round her burn,

And all the planets in their turn,

Confirm the tidings as they roll,

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 or sound

Amid their radiant orbs be found?

In Reason’s ear they all rejoice,

And utter forth a glorious voice,

Forever singing, as they shine,

“The hand that made us is divine!”