POETRY.
HYMN FROM THE PROLOGUE TO "FAUST."
SONOROUS speeds the Sun through heaven, 'Mid music of his sister-spheres, And following still the mandate given, With march of thunder leads the years.
The angels watch his course victorious, Drink of his strength, but fathom naught ;— Still as at first the world is glorious, Still as at first it baffles thought.
Swift and more swift than thought can measure, Circles the earth in splendour dight, Varying day's Elysian pleasure With shades of deep and awful night.
The billowing ocean, ne'er desisting, Dashes with foam its rocky base, And rock and ocean, unresisting, On with the whirling planets race.
And tempests met in rival passion O'er land and sea pursue their course, And wondrous in their working fashion A potent chain of mystic force.
Down with the lightning desolation Flames, and the thunderbolt succeeds ; But heaven's serene illumination Thy servants, Lord, in rev'rence leads.
The angels watch thy works victorious, Drink of their strength, but fathom naught;— Still as at first the world is glorious, Still as at first it baffles thought. D.
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