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 night

9Might 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 fire

28Are 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.