Page:Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse.pdf/252

 Pale cast the moon her first, and timid glance, And the stars sparkled o'er the blue expanse.

Mild Ocean's waves with scaly silver glow'd, Birds soar'd in air, and hover'd o'er the flood; Above, around, the tones of rapture sigh'd, "Live, and rejoice," the forming God reply'd, "Sport on the cloud, and thro' the waters glide."

Next, rising slow, a mix'd and varied birth, Unnumber'd beasts came roving o'er the earth, They crept, they sported wild, they stalk'd with pride, Or cropt the grass, or drank the limpid tide; Some, with aw'd gaze, the wondrous scene survey'd, And some slept fearless, in the cooling shade.

Serene, the great Creator clos'd his plan, And stamp'd his image on the form of man; Gave life and motion to a mass of clay, Eye speaking thought, and brow denoting sway, Reason to judge, and majesty to awe, Sole monarch, holding sway o'er all he saw.

Last, came a female form, more soft and fair, And Eden smil'd to see the stranger there.

Then tones of joy, from harps seraphic rung, The stars of Morning in their courses sung,