A Song to David

A SONG to DAVID

I.

O THOU, that sit'st upon a throne, With harp of high majestic tone, To praise the King of kings; And voice of heav'n-ascending swell, Which, while its deeper notes excell, Clear, as a clarion, rings:

II.

To bless each valley, grove and coast, And charm the cherubs to the post Of gratitude in throngs; To keep the days on Zion's mount, And send the year to his account, With dances and with songs:

III.

O Servant of God's holiest charge, The minister of praise at large, Which thou may'st now receive; From thy blest mansion hail and hear, From topmost eminence appear To this the wreath I weave.

IV.

Great, valiant, pious, good, and clean, Sublime, contemplative, serene, Strong, constant, pleasant, wise! Bright effluence of exceeding grace; Best man!---the swiftness and the race, The peril, and the prize!

V.

Great---from the lustre of his crown, From Samuel's horn and God's renown, Which is the people's voice; For all the host, from rear to van, Applauded and embrac'd the man--- The man of God's own choice.

VI.

Valiant---the word and up he rose--- The fight---he triumph'd o'er the foes, Whom God's just laws abhor; And arm'd in gallant faith he took Against the boaster, from the brook, The weapons of the war.

VII.

Pious---magnificent and grand; 'Twas he the famous temple plan'd: (The seraph in his soul) Foremost to give his Lord his dues, Foremost to bless the welcome news, And foremost to condole.

VIII.

Good---from Jehudah's genuine vein, From God's best nature good in grain, His aspect and his heart; To pity, to forgive, to save, Witness En-gedi's conscious cave, And Shimei's blunted dart.

IX.

Clean---if perpetual prayer be pure, And love, which could itself innure To fasting and to fear--- Clean in his gestures, hands, and feet, To smite the lyre, the dance compleat, To play the sword and spear.

X.

Sublime---invention ever young, Of vast conception, tow'ring tongue, To God th'eternal theme; Notes from yon exaltations caught, Unrival'd royalty of thought, O'er meaner strains supreme.

XI.

Contemplative---on God to fix His musings, and above the six The sabbath-day he blest; 'Twas then his thoughts self-conquest prun'd, And heavenly melancholy tun'd, To bless and bear the rest.

XII.

Serene---to sow the seeds of peace, Rememb'ring, when he watch'd the fleece, How sweetly Kidron purl'd--- To further knowledge, silence vice, And plant perpetual paradise When God had calm'd the world.

XIII.

Strong---in the Lord, who could defy Satan, and all his powers that lie In sempiternal night; And hell, and horror, and despair Were as the lion and the bear To his undaunted might.

XIV.

Constant---in love to God THE TRUTH, Age, manhood, infancy, and youth--- To Jonathan his friend Constant, beyond the verge of death; And Ziba, and Mephibosheth, His endless fame attend.

XV.

Pleasant---and various as the year; Man, soul, and angel, without peer, Priest, champion, sage and boy; In armour, or in ephod clad, His pomp, his piety was glad; Majestic was his joy.

XVI.

Wise---in recovery from his fall, Whence rose his eminence o'er all, Of all the most revil'd; The light of Israel in his ways, Wise are his precepts, prayer and praise, And counsel to his child.

XVII.

His muse, bright angel of his verse, Gives balm for all the thorns that pierce, For all the pangs that rage; Blest light, still gaining on the gloom, The more than Michael of his bloom, Th' Abishag of his age.

XVIII.

He sung of God---the mighty source Of all things---the stupendous force On which all strength depends; From whose right arm, beneath whose eyes, All period, pow'r, and enterprize Commences, reigns, and ends.

XIX.

Angels---their ministry and meed, Which to and fro with blessings speed, Or with their citterns wait; Where Michael with his millions bows, Where dwells the seraph and his spouse, The cherub and her mate.

XX.

Of man---the semblance and effect Of God and Love---the Saint elect For infinite applause--- To rule the land, and briny broad, To be laborious in his laud, And heroes in his cause.

XXI.

The world---the clustring 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.

XXII.

Trees, plants, and flow'rs---of virtuous root; Gem yielding blossom, yielding fruit, Choice gums and precious balm; Bless ye the nosegay in the vale, And with the sweetners of the gale Enrich the thankful psalm.

XXIII.

Of fowl--e'en ev'ry beak and wing Which chear the winter, hail the spring, That live in peace or prey; They that make music, or that mock, The quail, the brave domestic cock, The raven, swan, and jay.

XXIV.

Of fishes---ev-ry size and shape, Which nature frames of light escape, Devouring man to shun: The shells are in the wealthy deep, The shoals upon the surface leap, And love the glancing sun.

XXV.

Of beasts---the beaver plods his task; While the sleek tygers roll and bask, Nor yet the shades arouse: Her cave the mining coney scoops; Where o'er the mead the mountain stoops, The kids exult and brouse.

XXVI.

Of gems---their virtue and their price, Which hid in earth from man's device, Their darts of lustre sheathe; The jasper of the master's stamp, The topaz blazing like a lamp Among the mines beneath.

XXVII.

Blest was the tenderness he felt When to his graceful harp he knelt, And did for audience call; When satan with his hand he quell'd, And in serene suspence he held The frantic throes of Saul.

XXVIII.

His furious foes no more malign'd As he such melody divin'd, And sense and soul detain'd; Now strinking strong, now soothing soft, He sent the godly sounds aloft, Or in delight refrain'd.

XXIX.

When up to heav'n his thoughts he pil'd, From fervent lips fair Michal smil'd, As blush to to blush she stood; And chose herself the queen, and gave Her utmost from her heart, "so brave, "And plays his hymns so good."

XXX.

The pillars of the Lord are seven, Which stand from earth to topmost heav'n; His wisdom drew the plan; His WORD accomplish'd the design, From brightest gem to deepest mine, From CHRIST enthron'd to man.

XXXI.

Alpha, the cause of causes, first In station, fountain, whence the burst Of light, and blaze of day; Whence bold attempt, and brave advance, Have motion, life, and ordinance, And heav'n itself its stay.

XXXII.

Gamma supports the glorious arch On which angelic legions march, And is with sapphires pav'd; Thence the fleet clouds are sent adrift, And thence the painted folds, that lift The crimson veil, are wav'd.

XXXIII.

Eta with living sculpture breathes, With verdant carvings, flow'ry wreathes Of never-wasting bloom; In strong relief his goodly base All instruments of labour grace, The trowel, spade, and loom.

XXXIV.

Next Theta stands to the Supreme--- Who form'd, in number, sign, and scheme, Th'illustrious lights that are; And one address'd his saffron robe, And one, clad in a silver globe, Held rule with ev'ry star.

XXXV.

Iota's tun'd to choral hymns Of those that fly, while he that swims In thankful safety lurks; And foot, and chapitre, and niche, The various histories enrich Of God's recorded works.

XXXVI.

Sigma presents the social droves, With him that solitary roves, And man of all the chief; Fair on whose face, and stately frame, Did God impress his hallow'd name, For ocular belief.

XXXVII.

OMEGA! GREATEST and the BEST, Stands sacred to the day of rest, For gratitude and thought; Which bless'd the world upon his pole, And gave the universe his goal, And clos'd th'infernal draught.

XXXVIII.

O DAVID, scholar of the Lord! Such is thy science, whence reward And infinite degree; O strength, O sweetness, lasting ripe! God's harp thy symbol and thy type The lion and the bee!

XXXIX.

There is but One who ne'er rebell'd But One by passion unimpell'd, By pleasures unintice't; He from himself his semblance sent, Grand object of his own content, And saw the God in CHRIST.

XL.

Tell them I am, JEHOVA said To MOSES; while earth heard in dread, And smitten to the heart, At once above, beneath, around, All nature, without voice or sound, Replied, O Lord, THOU ART.

XLI.

Thou art---to give and to confirm, For each his talent and his term; All flesh thy bounties share: Thou shalt not call thy brother fool; The porches of the Christian school Are meekness, peace, and pray'r.

XLII.

Open, and naked of offence, Man's made of mercy, soul, and sense; God arm'd the snail and wilk; Be good to him that pulls thy plough; Due food and care, due rest, allow For her that yields thee milk.

XLIII.

Rise up before the hoary head, And God's benign commandment dread, Which says thou shalt not die: "Not as I will, but as thou wilt," Pray'd He whose conscience knew no guilt; With whose bless'd pattern vie.

XLIV.

Use all thy passions!---love is thine, And joy, and jealousy divine; Thine hope's eternal fort, And care thy leisure to disturb, With fear concupiscence to curb, And rapture to transport.

XLV.

Act simply, as occasion asks; Put mellow wine in season'd casks; Till not with ass and bull: Remember thy baptismal bond; Keep from commixtures foul and fond, Nor work thy flax with wool.

XLVI.

Distribute: pay the Lord his tithe, And make the widow's heart-strings blithe; Resort with those that weep: As you from all and each expect, For all and each thy love direct, And render as you reap.

XLVII.

The slander and its bearer spurn, And propagating praise sojourn To make thy welcome last; Turn from Old Adam to the New; By hope futurity pursue; Look upwards to the past.

XLVIII.

Controul thine eye, salute success, Hounour the wiser, happier bless, And for thy neighbour feel; Grutch not of mammon and his leaven, Work emulation up to heaven By knowledge and by zeal.

XLIX.

O DAVID, highest in the list Of worthies, On God's ways insist, The genuine words1 repeat: Vain are the documents of men, And vain the flourish of the pen That keeps the fool's conceit.

L.

PRAISE above all---for praise prevails; Heap up the measure, load the scales, And good to goodness add: The gen'rous soul her saviour aids, But peevish obloquy degrades; The Lord is great and glad.

LI.

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 bride-groom, bidst.

LII.

For ADORATION seasons change, And order, truth, and beauty range, Adjust, attract, and fill: The grass the polyanthus cheques; And polish'd porphyry reflects, By the descending rill.

LIII.

Rich almonds colour to the prime For ADORATION; tendrils climb, And fruit-trees pledge their gems; And Ivis with her gorgeous vest Builds for her eggs her cunning nest, And bell-flowers bow their stems.

LIV.

With vinous syrup cedars sprout; From rocks pure honey gushing out, For ADORATION springs: All scene of painting croud the map Of nature; to the mermaid's pap The scaled infant clings.

LV.

The spotted ounce and playsome cubs Run rustling 'mongst the flow'ring shrubs, And lizards feed the moss; For ADORATION beasts embark, While waves upholding halcyon's ark No longer roar and toss.

LVI.

While Israel sits beneath his fig, With coral root and amber sprig The wean'd advent'rer sports; Where to the palm the jasmin cleaves, For ADORATION 'mongst the leaves The gale his peace reports.

LVII.

Increasing days their reign exalt, Nor in the pink and mottled vault Th'opposing spirits tilt; And, by the coasting reader spied, The silverlings and crusions glide, For ADORATION gilt.

LVIII.

For ADORATION rip'ning canes And cocoa's purest milk detains The western pilgrim's staff; Where rain in clasping boughs inclos'd, And vines with oranges dispose'd, Embow'r the social laugh.

LIX.

Now labour his reward receives, For ADORATION counts his sheaves To peace, her bounteous prince; The nectarine his strong tint imbibes, And apples of ten thousand tribes, And quick peculiar quince.

LX.

The wealthy crops of whit'ning rice, Mongst thyine woods and groves of spice, For ADORATION grow; And, marshall'd in the fenced land, The peaches and pomegranates stand, Where wild carnations blow.

LXI.

The laurels with the winter strive; The crocus burnishes alive Upon the snow-clad earth: For ADORATION myrtles stay To keep the garden from dismay, And bless the sight from dearth.

LXII.

The pheasant shows his pompous neck; And ermine, jealous of a speck, With fear eludes offence: The sable, with his glossy pride, For ADORATION is descried, Where frosts the wave condense.

LXIII.

The chearful holly, pensive yew, And holy thorn, their trim renew; The squirrel hoards his nuts: All creatures batten o'er their stores, And careful nature all her doors, For ADORATION shuts.

LXIV.

For ADORATION, DAVID's psalms Lift up the heart to deeds of alms; And he, who kneels and chants, Prevails his passions to controul, Finds meat and med'cine to the soul, Which for translation pants.

LXV.

For ADORATION, beyond match, The scollar bulfinch aims to catch The soft flute's iv'ry touch; And, careless on the hazle spray, The daring redbreast keeps at bay The damsel's greedy clutch.

LXVI.

For ADORATION, in the skies, The Lord's philosopher espies The Dog, the Ram, and Rose; The planet's ring, Orion's sword; Nor is his greatness less ador'd In the vile worm that glows.

LXVII.

For ADORATION on the strings3 The western breezes work their wings, The captive ear to sooth.--- Hark! 'tis a voice---how still, and small--- That makes the cataracts to fall, Or bids the sea be smooth.

LXVIII.

For ADORATION, incense comes From bezoar, and Arabian gums; And on the civet's furr. But as for prayer, or e're it faints, Far better is the breath of saints Than galbanum and myrrh.

LXIX.

For ADORATION from the the down, Of dam'sins to th' anana's crown, God sends to tempt the taste; And while the luscious zest invites, The sense, that in the scene delights, Commands desire be chaste.

LXX.

For ADORATION, all the paths Of grace are open, all the baths Of purity refresh; And all the rays of glory beam To deck the man of God's esteem, Who triumph o'er the flesh.

LXXI.

For ADORATION, in the dome Of Christ the sparrow's find an home; And on his olives perch: The swallow also dwell with thee, O man of God's humility, Within his Saviour CHURCH.

LXXII.

Sweet is the dew that falls betimes, And drops upon the leafy limes; Sweet Hermon's fragrant air: Sweet is the lilly's siluer bell, And sweet the wakeful tapers smell That watch for early pray'r.

LXXIII.

Sweet the the young nurse with love intense, Which smiles o'er sleeping innocence; Sweet when the lost arrive: Sweet the musician's ardour beats, While his vague mind's in quest of sweets, The choicest flow'rs to hive.

LXXIV.

Sweeter in all the strains of love, The language of thy turtle dove, Pair'd to thy swelling chord; Sweeter with ev'ry grace endu'd, The glory of thy gratitude, Respir'd unto the Lord.

LXXV.

Strong is the horse upon his speed; Strong in pursuit the rapid glede, Which makes at once his game: Strong the tall ostrich on the ground; Strong thro' the tubulent profound Shoots xiphias4 to his aim.

LXXVI.

Strong is the lion---like a coal His eye-ball---like a bastion's mole His chest against the foes: Strong, the gier-eagle on his sail, Strong against tide, th'enormous whale Emerges as he goes.

LXXVII.

But stronger still, in earth and air, And in the sea, the man of pray'r; And far beneath the tide; And in the seat to faith assign'd, Where ask is have, where seek is find, Where knock is open wide.

LXXVIII.

Beauteous the fleet before the gale; Beauteous the multitudes in mail, Rank'd arms and crested heads: Beauteous the garden's umbrage mild, Walk, water, meditated wild, And all the bloomy beds.

LXXIX.

Beauteous the moon full on the lawn; And beauteous, when the veil's withdrawn, The virgin to her spouse: Beauteous the temple deck'd and fill'd, When to the heav'n of heav'n's they build Their heart-directed vows.

LXXX.

Beauteous, yea beauteous more than these, The shepheard king upon his knees, For his momentous trust; With wish of infinite conceit, For man, beast, mute, the small and great, And prostrate dust to dust.

LXXXI.

Precious the bounteous widow's mite; And precious, for extream delight, The largess5 from the churl: Precious the ruby's blushing blaze, And alba's6 blest imperial rays, And pure cerulean pearl.

LXXXII.

Precious the penitential tear; And precious is the sigh sincere, Acceptable to God: And precious are the winning flow'rs, In gladsome Israel's feast of bow'rs, Bound on the hallow'd sod.

LXXXIII.

More precious that diviner part Of David, ev'n the Lord's own heart, Great, beautiful, and new: In all things where it was intent, In all extreams, in each event, Proof---answ'ring true to true.

LXXXIV.

Glorious the sun in mid career; Glorious th' assembled fires appear; Glorious the comet's train: Glorious the trumpet and alarm; Glorious th' almighty stretch'd-out arm; Glorious th' enraptur'd main:

LXXXV.

Glorious the northern lights astream; Glorious the song, when God's the theme; Glorious the thunder's roar: Glorious hosanna from the den; Glorious the catholic amen; Glorious the martyr's gore:

LXXXVI.

Glorious ---more glorious is the crown Of Him that brought salvation down By meekness, call'd thy Son; Thou at stupendous truth believ'd, And now the matchless deed's atchiev'd, DETERMINED, DARED, and DONE.

FINIS. ''''