Page:Poems Sigourney, 1834.pdf/48

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morning's wing, and fly from zone to zone, To Earth's remotest pole, and ere old Time Can shift one figure on his dial plate Haste to the frigid Thule of mankind, Where the scant life-drop freezes.—Or go down To Ocean's secret caverns, 'mid the throng Of monsters without number, which no foot Of man hath visited, and yet returned To walk among the living.—Or the shroud Of midnight wrap around thee, dense and deep, Bidding thy spirit slumber.—

Hop'st thou thus To 'scape the Almighty, to whose piercing eye Morn's robe and midnight's vestment are the same?

Spirit of truth!—why should we seek to hide Motive or deed from thee?—why strive to walk In a vain show before our fellow men, Since at the same dread audit each must stand, And with a sun-ray read his brother's breast While his own thoughts are weighed?—Search thou my soul!— And if aught evil lurk securely there Like Achan's stolen hoard, command it thence,