| BY one pervading spirit | |
| Of tones and numbers all things are controlled, | |
| As sages taught, where faith was found to merit | |
| Initiation in that mystery old. | |
| The heavens, whose aspect makes our minds as still | 5 |
| As they themselves appear to be, | |
| Innumerable voices fill | |
| With everlasting harmony; | |
| The towering headlands, crowned with mist, | |
| Their feet among the billows, know | 10 |
| That Ocean is a mighty harmonist; | |
| Thy pinions, universal Air, | |
| Ever waving to and fro, | |
| Are delegates of harmony, and bear | |
| Strains that support the Seasons in their round; | 15 |
| Stern Winter loves a dirge-like sound. | |
| |
| Break forth into thanksgiving, | |
| Ye banded instruments of wind and chords; | |
| Unite, to magnify the Ever-living, | |
| Your inarticulate notes with the voice of words! | 20 |
| Nor hushed be service from the lowing mead, | |
| Nor mute the forest hum of noon; | |
| Thou too be heard, lone eagle! freed | |
| From snowy peak and cloud, attune | |
| Thy hungry barkings to the hymn | 25 |
| Of joy, that from her utmost walls | |
| The six-days’ Work by flaming Seraphim | |
| Transmits to Heaven! As Deep to Deep | |
| Shouting through one valley calls, | |
| All worlds, all natures, mood and measure keep | 30 |
| For praise and ceaseless gratulation, poured | |
| Into the ear of God, their Lord! | |
| |
| A Voice to Light gave Being; | |
| To Time, and Man his earth-born chronicler; | |
| A Voice shall finish doubt and dim foreseeing, | 35 |
| And sweep away life’s visionary stir; | |
| The trumpet (we, intoxicate with pride, | |
| Arm at its blast for deadly wars) | |
| To archangelic lips applied, | |
| The grave shall open, quench the stars. | 40 |
| O Silence! are Man’s noisy years | |
| No more than moments of thy life? | |
| Is Harmony, blest queen of smiles and tears, | |
| With her smooth tones and discords just, | |
| Tempered into rapturous strife, | 45 |
| Thy destined bond-slave? No! though earth be dust | |
| And vanish, though the heavens dissolve, her stay | |
| Is in the WORD, that shall not pass away. | |
