ODE V. ON DAY.
I.
Thron'd in Empyreal Glory's blaze,
Th' Omnipotent call'd forth a living Ray:
“Go speed,” he said, “thy flight benign!
“And where I draw Creation's line,
“Be thou the Torch of Day!”
II.
Proud of so high behest
Thro' God's august abode,
The obedient Beam a Sun confest,
In Orbed Splendor rode.
Upward her eye impregnate Nature cast,
And hail'd the warm Effulgence as it past:
Life glow'd more vigorous, Beauty shone more gay:
The Power, whose blest decree
Bade Life and Beauty be,
To crown all Life and Beauty gave the Day.
III.
Across the wilds, amidst the groves,
Mark where the feather'd Nation roves!
While eager Vision scarce pursues
Th' eternal change of glittering hues!
Yet vain those glittering hues, and vain
Must that eternal change remain,
Till Day, profuse of Light, illume
Each shadowy tint, and flash on every plume.
IV.
Lo where the Eagle cuts his way,
Towering athwart th' immense of sky!
No bounds his daring pinion stay;
No radiance dims his ardent eye.
Him heavenly Wisdom form'd of old,
Excess of spirit to disclose;
And taught his stedfast course to hold,
Where Day's concentrate Lustre rose.
V.
Thus he through trackless heights unwearied soars.
Glad Day meanwhile salutes the flowery train,
Where sweets exhale from thousand, thousand pores;
And lavish Vegetation clothes the plain.
Nor scorn his chearing fervors to expand
The faithful marigold's recovering bloom;
Whose closing buds a mournful progeny stand,
While eve's chill shades their sullen reign assume.
VI.
Busy din assails mine ears!
Hurried echoes round me play!
'Tis War's rude voice! her banner'd Pomp she rears,
Insolent to flaunt it in the face of Day!
Commerce! rear thy banners too!
Raise thy shout of Civic Glee!
Day will rejoice thy trophied March to view,
That blazons Patriot Reign and peaceful Polity.
VII.
Health, O Day! exults to greet thee!
Lusty Strength springs forth to meet thee!
Enterprise is fond to use thee!
Hope, midst gathering gloom, renews thee!
Science! Genius! love to trace thee,
Grac'd by thee! and skill'd to grace thee!
VIII.
At heedless ease in thy prolific Heat,
The tawny native of more Torrid Lands
Basks him luxurious:—while beneath his feet
His rampant crop, an unsought harvest stands.
To Temperate Climes vicissitude like thine
Alternate profit and delight supplies!
Care rests from toil, secure, at thy decline:
Rest plans new toils, secure to see thee rise!
Ev'n on his rock of everlasting Frost
The hard inhabitant of Greenland's shore
Buys thy brief stay, at twofold winter's cost,
And but resigns thee, to enjoy thee more!
