VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS CREATOR Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come pour thy joys on human-kind; O source of uncreated light, Plenteous of grace, descend from high, Thou strength of His Almighty hand, * Whose power does heaven and earth command! Proceeding Spirit, our defense, Who dost the gifts of tongues dispense, Refine and purge our earthly parts; Chase from our minds the infernal foe, Make us eternal truths receive, The Father, and the Son, by thee. *For the original of this poem see page 3573. Immortal honor, endless fame, Attend the Almighty Father's name; Who for lost man's redemption died; And equal adoration be, Eternal Paraclete, to thee. Translated from the Latin of St. Gregory the Great(?) by John Dryden [1631-1700] SONG TO DAVID SUBLIME-invention ever young, O'er meaner strains supreme. His muse, bright angel of his verse, Blest light still gaining on the gloom, The Abishag of his age. He sang of God-the mighty source Commences, reigns, and ends. Tell them, I AM, Jehovah said To Moses; while earth heard in dread, At once above, beneath, around, All Nature, without voice or sound, The world, the clustering spheres, He made; The glorious light, the soothing shade, Dale, champaign, grove, and hill; The multitudinous abyss, Where Secrecy remains in bliss, And Wisdom hides her skill. The pillars of the Lord are seven, His Word accomplished the design, From Christ enthroned, to Man. For Adoration all the ranks Of Angels yield eternal thanks, And David in the midst; With God's good poor, which, last and least In man's esteem, Thou to Thy feast, O blessed Bridegroom, bidd'st! For Adoration, David's Psalms And he, who kneels and chants, For Adoration, in the dome Of Christ, the sparrows find a home, And on His olives perch: The swallow also dwells with thee, Within his Saviour's church. Sweet is the dew that falls betimes, Sweet, Hermon's fragrant air: Sweet is the lily's silver bell, Sweet the young nurse, with love intense, Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence; Sweet, when the lost arrive: Sweet the musician's ardor beats, While his vague mind's in quest of sweets, The choicest flowers to hive. Strong is the horse upon his speed; Which makes at once his game: Strong is the lion-like a coal But stronger still, in earth and air, And far beneath the tide: And in the seat to fate assigned, Where ask is have, where seek is find, Precious the penitential tear; Acceptable to God: And precious are the winning flowers, Glorious the sun in mid career; Glorious the comet's train: Glorious the trumpet and alarm; Glorious the Almighty's stretched-out arm; Glorious the enraptured main; Glorious the northern lights astream; Glorious the song, when God's the theme; Glorious-more glorious-is the crown Thou that stupendous truth believed;— Christopher Smart [1722-1771] NOX NOCTI INDICAT SCIENTIAM WHEN I survey the bright So rich with jewels hung, that night My soul her wings doth spread The Almighty's mysteries to read For the bright firmament Shoots forth no flame So silent, but is eloquent In speaking the Creator's name. No unregarded star Contracts its light Into so small a character, Removed far from our human sight, But if we steadfast look We shall discern In it, as in some holy book, How man may heavenly knowledge learn. |