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1O that the
splendent1
and illustrious sun,2Round whom the planets’
triple motions2
run,3
Diurnal3
, annual, trepidation4
,4(
Yet5
that all-quickening orb6
keeps still his station,5Whilst they about his throne dance each his
measure7
,6According to the Great Creator’s pleasure):
7O that his influence, his heat, his light
8Would clasp this
globe8
, that9
these sad shades of night9Might this
our horoscope involve no more10
,10Nor me the loss of day so oft deplore.
11Now half our time in horrid night is lost;
12The other half, ’twixt hope and fear, is tossed
13Till pain and grief (O cursed
communion11
14Twixt soul and body) doth dissolve the union.
15Then Death, triumphant, doth perform his
lust12
,16Grinding, in spite, our very bones to
dust13
,17Then shuts us in Oblivion’s
sable14
womb,18
Our infant cradle, now our age’s tomb,15
19Till infinite power and love our dust shall raise,
20To sing, in
joys16
, His everlasting praise.21But though the sun be center unto all,
22And our earth’s motion makes him
rise and fall17
,23Yet must his
orb18
confine my thoughts also?24Must they (ay me!), must they no higher go?
25Since first I saw a glimpse of heavenly joy,
26Methinks this world is but a trundling
toy19
;27And all those glitt’ring
globes20
that shine like fire28Are lights hung out to
light21
my thoughts up higher,29To Him that doth the universe
involve22
,30
Whose Word creates, whose breath do all dissolve,23
31Even Him that total nature doth surround,
32The thought of whom doth my poor soul confound.
33Ay me! Who can invisible light behold,
34Or can eternity’s age be told?
35If I, to contemplate His glory, venture,
36Rottenness into my bones doth enter.
37
Hollo24
! my thoughts, to native earth descend;38For thy ambition in the
dust25
must end.39
Yet26
we may, by the beauty of the creature,40Conceive the glory of the Great Creator,
41He whose incomprehensible power
42Did make the tallest tree and smallest flower,
43Even lofty cedars that on mountains grow
44And humble daisies which in valleys blow.
45The elephant and whale, He doth
dissect27
,46
The28
despicablest reptile or insect.47Then will I here, my few and evil days,
48Make Him the sum and center of my praise.