XII.

Hours steal away; unheeded as they pass, But closely reckon'd when their flight is o'er. Though motionless appear Time's ebbing glass, Yet leave its sands awhile, the form they bore, Though short the interval, is seen no more. Say twenty years are gone, our youthful day Bears well the loss; mark off another score, It alters much; another, where are they?. A broken remnant lives, the rest are mould'ring clay.

XIII.

Yet not devoid of happiness these hours

But for ourselves, would be. The child ungrown Pursues the painted fly, nor heeds the flowers Which die beneath its feet; but when 'tis flown Past chance of restoration, not alone

Weeps for its baffled hopes, but sees with tears The drooping flow'rets, where so late they shone In fragrant bloom: so he of riper years

On some vain scheme intent, some hope which disappears

XIV.

Before 'tis reach'd, neglects life's truest joys,
Nor heeds the happiness which may be won:
Man, the vain child whom ev'ry fly decoys,
Still follows shadows which but draw him on
"Till the true pleasure of his life is gone,
And its great object miss'd: his Makers' hand
Though visible in all that it has done,

Is disregarded; the great Power which plan'd

This wond'rous globe, none see, none fear, none understand.

XV.

Though rich with ev'ry tempting lure, and fair
As mortal thought can reach, kind Nature's page
Invites to piety and peace, with rare
Collection of instruction: for the sage

A depth of wisdom which, may well assuage
His thirst for knowledge, while, to all as kind,
She freely shews to him of tender age

Her wonders, tells him for what use design'd,

And bids him in her works observe th' Almighty mind.

XVI.

Complex and wonderful creation! Here,
Where Contemplation leads to Piety,

May fallen man observe, uncheck'd by fear,
The power of his Creator; here may see
His majesty display'd, yet kindly free

From its attendant terror. Who has scan'd,
The wonders which sprung forth at God's decree,
Nor felt around him still the mind which plan'd
And own'd on every side His wonder-working hand?

XVII.

What skilful harmony is seen around;
What wonderful intelligence display'd
From the vast outline of productive ground
To the soft green of the minutest blade
Which clothes its surface. Nature new arrayed

In pristine loveliness, still kindly rears

Her youthful form to praise the hand that made; And though at times man's sin calls forth her tears,

A grateful smile returns with her returning years.

C

XVIII.

In all her varied charms her student sees

His mighty arm by whom they were endow'd:
He feels His breath in the reviving breeze;

His lightnings flash forth from the darkling cloud ;
And when the rolling thunder peals aloud,
Its echoes speak of Him. Where high arise
The lofty mountains in their snowy shroud,
His arm has rais'd their height amid the skies;
And fostered by His hand the lowly valley lies.

XIX.

At His behest the tempests' gathered night
Comes rolling onward o'er the troubled main,
Urging to shelt'ring cliff the sea bird's flight:
But when the rude winds rage, His hands restrain
Their ruthless force, and check the torrent rain:
They pass at His command: and mildly warm,
The sun's benignant beams shine forth again;

And ev'ry flower expands its tender form,

And sweetly owns His care who saved it from the storm.

3

XX.

Kind witness of Himself, the showers of heaven

Shed their pure dew upon the thirsty earth,
And all varieties of fruit are given:

His word goes forth and living things have birth,
And all around is heard their grateful mirth.

Yet Man, oh sad'ning theme! he for whose use
Such things are form'd, with knowledge of their worth,

Alone seeks happiness in their abuse,

And erring against light, is left without excuse."

XXI.

So Scripture speaks him: if its sacred page
Be all unknown, and therefore not incur'd
The greater guilt when Heaven's embassage
Has been neglected; if he have not heard
And therefore not despised his Maker's word,
Still ignorance will not be his defence;
God's witness was around him, and he err'd
Against the light he had: he gives to sense

The worship which he owes to Him whose hands dispense