 | The poems of Dr. Yalden |  |
HYMN TO DARKNESS.
Darkness, thou first great parent of us all,
Thou art our great original:
Since from thy universal womb
Does all thou shad'st below, thy numerous offspring, come.
Thou art our great original:
Since from thy universal womb
Does all thou shad'st below, thy numerous offspring, come.
Thy wondrous birth is ev'n to Time unknown,
Or, like Eternity, thou'dst none;
Whilst Light did its first being owe
Unto that awful shade it dares to rival now.
Or, like Eternity, thou'dst none;
Whilst Light did its first being owe
Unto that awful shade it dares to rival now.
Say, in what distant region dost thou dwell,
To reason inaccessible?
From form and duller matter free,
Thou soar'st above the reach of man's philosophy.
To reason inaccessible?
From form and duller matter free,
Thou soar'st above the reach of man's philosophy.
Involv'd in thee, we first receive our breath,
Thou art our refuge too in death,
Great monarch of the grave and womb,
Where-e'er our souls shall go, to thee our bodies come.
Thou art our refuge too in death,
Great monarch of the grave and womb,
Where-e'er our souls shall go, to thee our bodies come.
The silent Globe is struck with awful fear,
When thy majestic shades appear:
Thou dost compose the Air and Sea,
And Earth a sabbath keeps, sacred to Rest and thee.
When thy majestic shades appear:
Thou dost compose the Air and Sea,
And Earth a sabbath keeps, sacred to Rest and thee.
In thy serener shades our ghosts delight,
And court the umbrage of the Night;
In vaults and gloomy caves they stray,
But fly the Morning's beams, and sicken at the Day.
And court the umbrage of the Night;
In vaults and gloomy caves they stray,
But fly the Morning's beams, and sicken at the Day.
Though solid bodies dare exclude the light,
Nor will the brightest ray admit;
No substance can thy force repel,
Thou reign'st in depths below, dost in the centre dwell.
Nor will the brightest ray admit;
No substance can thy force repel,
Thou reign'st in depths below, dost in the centre dwell.
The sparkling gems, and ore in mines below,
To thee their beauteous lustre owe;
Though form'd within the womb of Night,
Bright as their sire they shine, with native rays of light.
To thee their beauteous lustre owe;
Though form'd within the womb of Night,
Bright as their sire they shine, with native rays of light.
When thou dost raise thy venerable head,
And art in genuine Night array'd.
Thy Negro beauties then delight;
Beauties, like polish'd jet, with their own darkness bright.
And art in genuine Night array'd.
Thy Negro beauties then delight;
Beauties, like polish'd jet, with their own darkness bright.
Thou dost thy smiles impartially bestow,
And know'st no difference here below:
All things appear the same by thee,
Though Light distinction makes, thou giv'st equality.
And know'st no difference here below:
All things appear the same by thee,
Though Light distinction makes, thou giv'st equality.
Thou, Darkness, art the lover's kind retreat,
And dost the nuptial joys compleat;
Thou dost inspire them with thy shade,
Giv'st vigour to the youth, and warm'st the yielding maid.
And dost the nuptial joys compleat;
Thou dost inspire them with thy shade,
Giv'st vigour to the youth, and warm'st the yielding maid.
Calm as the bless'd above the anchorites dwell,
Within their peaceful gloomy cell.
Their minds with heavenly joys are fill'd;
The pleasures Light deny, thy shades for ever yield.
Within their peaceful gloomy cell.
Their minds with heavenly joys are fill'd;
The pleasures Light deny, thy shades for ever yield.
In caves of Night, the oracles of old
Did all their mysteries unfold:
Darkness did first Religion grace,
Gave terrours to the God, and reverence to the place.
Did all their mysteries unfold:
Darkness did first Religion grace,
Gave terrours to the God, and reverence to the place.
When the Almighty did on Horeb stand,
Thy shades enclos'd the hallow'd land:
In clouds of Night he was array'd,
And venerable Darkness his pavilion made.
Thy shades enclos'd the hallow'd land:
In clouds of Night he was array'd,
And venerable Darkness his pavilion made.
When he appear'd arm'd in his power and might,
He veil'd the beatific Light;
When terrible with majesty,
In tempests he gave laws, and clad himself in thee.
He veil'd the beatific Light;
When terrible with majesty,
In tempests he gave laws, and clad himself in thee.
Ere the foundation of the Earth was laid,
Or brighter firmament was made;
Ere matter, time, or place, was known,
Thou, monarch Darkness, sway'dst these spacious realms alone.
Or brighter firmament was made;
Ere matter, time, or place, was known,
Thou, monarch Darkness, sway'dst these spacious realms alone.
But, now the Moon (though gay with borrow'd light)
Invades thy scanty lot of Night,
By rebel subjects thou'rt betray'd,
The anarchy of Stars depose their monarch Shade.
Invades thy scanty lot of Night,
By rebel subjects thou'rt betray'd,
The anarchy of Stars depose their monarch Shade.
Yet fading Light its empire must resign,
And Nature's power submit to thine:
An universal ruin shall erect thy throne,
And Fate confirm thy kingdom evermore thy own.
And Nature's power submit to thine:
An universal ruin shall erect thy throne,
And Fate confirm thy kingdom evermore thy own.
| The poems of Dr. Yalden | |