New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-10-30
SW&h Orleans 9ailg Gtestent.
G o D

The following sublime ode to the Deity, is from the
Russian anthology, and was written by the celebrated
Dezhayen. This poem is said to have been transa-
ted into Japanese by order of the Emperor, and is
hung up embroidered in gold in the temple Of Jeddo
1t has also been translated into the Chinese and Tar
tar languages, written on piece OF rich silk, and
in the Imperial Palace at Pekin. 1t was
translated into English, as follows, by Dr.. BoWring
and is said to have lost much of its original beauty by
the translation. 1t is noble composition, and should
be preserved and committed to memory by every
reader:
0 THOU ETERNAL One! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide;
Unchanged through Times all devastating flight,
Thou only God! There is no God beside!
Being above all beings mighty one!
Whom none can comprehend and none explore
Who tillst existence with Thyself alone
Embracing all-supporting- ruling DER
Being whom we call God--and be now no more!
In its sublime research, philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep-1nay count
The sands Or the suns mys-b,t Cod for Thee
There is no weight nor measure--none can mount
Up to thy mysteries Reasons brightest spark,
Though kinded by Thy light, in vain may try
To trace thy counsels. infinite and dark
And thought is lost eer thought can soar so high,
Even like past moments in eternity.
Thou from prmeval nothngness lidst call
First, chaos-then eXlstence-Lord, on Thee
Eternity had its foundation-aIl
Sprang forth from Thee-of light, Joy, harmony,
Sole original life, all beauty Thine,
Thy word created ALL and doth create
Thy spendor fills all space with rays divine.
Thou art, and vert, and shall be! Glorious Great
Life giving, life sustaining POentate!
Thy chains the unmeasured Universe surround
Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath.
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled life and death
AS sparks mount upwards from the fiery blaze,
So suns are born so words spring forth from Thee
And as the spaugles in the sunny rays,
Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry
OF heavens bright army gltters in Thy praise.
| million torches lighted by Thy hand,
Wander unwearicd through the blue abyss;
They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command,
| All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss.
What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light?
| glorious company of golden streams?
| Lamps OF celestial ether burning bright?
Suns lighting systems with their Joyous beams?
But thou to these art as the noon to night
Yet as drop Of water in the sea,
I All this magnifcencc in Thee is lost
What are ten thousand worlds compared to Thee :?
And what am ], then? Heavens unnumbercd hos
Though multiplied by my1iads and arayed
| In all the glory of sublimest thought,
| Is but an atom in the balance weighed
Against Thy greatness is cypher brought
Against lntinity. What am l. then F? uought
Nought!- But the effluence of Thy light divine.
Yes, in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine,
As shines the sunbeams in drop Of dew,
Nought but live, and on Hopes pinion5 fly
Eager towards Thy presence; for in Thee
live, and breathe and dwell aspiring high,
Even to the throne Of Thy divinity,
I am, God and surely Thou must be-
Thou art! directing, Guiding all, Thou art
Direct my understanding, then to Thee
Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart;
Though but an atom midst mmeD9ity,
Still | am something, fashioned by Thy hand!
hold a middle rank twiyt heaven and earth,
On the last verge Of mortal being stand,
Close to the realms where angels have their birth
Just on the boundary Of the spirit land
The chain of being is complete in me;
In me is matter last gadation lost,
And the next step is spirit-Deity.
can command the lightning, and am dust!
A monarch and slave--a worm, a God
Whence came here and how so marvelously
Constructed and conceived? unknown This Gle
Lives surely through some higher energy,
For from itself alone it could not be-
Creator! Yes, thy wisdom and thy word
Created mel Thou source Of life and good
Thou spirit of my spirit, and my Lord!
! Thy light, Thy love, in their bright plentitude
Filled me with an immortal soul, to spring
Over the abyss Of Death, and bade it wear
The garments of eternal day, and wing
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere,
Even to its source--to Thee-ts author there.
thought inefable vision best
Though worthless our conceptions all of thee
Yet shall Thy shadowed image till our breast,
And with its homage to the Deity.
God, thus above my loWly thoughts can soar:
t Thus seek Thy prcsence-Beng wise and good
Midst Thy vast works admire, obey, adore;
t And when the tongue is eloquent no more,
The soul shall speak in tears Of gratitude.