Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-11-25
S-1Z
POetry.
THE ALMIGHTY.

| llhe following sublime ode to the Suprem
Being is translated from the Russian. 1t wa
written by one of their most distinguished poets
Derzhauir. This ode is said to have been trans
/ lated into the Chinese and Tartar languages
written on rich silk. and suspended in the i'm
perlal palace at Pekin. The Emperor of Japa1
had 1T translated into the Japanese, embroidered
| in gold. and hung in the Temple of Jeddo. 1t i
| gratifying to learn that these nations have dom
| themselves the honor to bestow such praise OF
| this noble composition
0 Thou Eternal One! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide;
Unchanged through Times all devastating fight
Thou only God There is no God beside.
Being above ali beings Mighty one
Whom none can comprehend, and none ex
plore;
Who flrst existence with thyself alone:
Embracing all-supporting- Yer
Being whom we call God-and know no more
In its sublime research, Philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep; may count
The sands or the suns rays but God, for thee
Ihere IS no weight nor measure; none car
mount
Up to thy mysteries Reasons brightest spark,
Though Sindled by the light in vain would try
TO trace thy counsels. Infinite the dark.
And thoughts lost ere though can soar so high,
Een like past moments in eternity.
Thou, from primeval nothingness, didst call
First Chaos. then Existence. Lord, on thee
Eternity had its foundation all
Spring forth from thee; of Light, Joy, Harmo-
Sole origin; all life, all beauty. thine,
Thy word created all and doth create;
Thy splendor fl IS all space with rays divine;
Thou art and vert, and shall De, glorious
great
Life-giving sustaining Potentate
Thy charms the unmeasured universe surround,
Upheld b. thee by thee inspired with breath
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautiful mingled Life and DEATH
AS sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze,
So suns are born SO worlds spring forth from
thee
And as the spangles in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow. the pageantry
Of heavens bright army glitters in thy praise.
A million torches lighted by thy hand,
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss;
They own tn power, accomplish thy command,
A II gay with lille, ali eloquent with bliss,
What shall we cal them? +? Piles of crystal light ?
A glorious company of golden streams?
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright?
Suns, lighting sgsf ems with theirjoy Gus beams,
But thou, to those art as the noon to night
Yea as a drop of water in the sea,
All this taa nilieence in thee is lost
What are a thousand worlds compared to thee?
And What am L when heavens unnumbered
Though multip led by myriads and arrayed
In all the glory Of sublimest thought,
Is but an atom in the taiance, weighed
Against tn greatuess-is cipher brought
Against infuity! " nat am then? Naught
Naughtl But the efIluence of the light divine,
Pervading words hsth reached my BOSOM,
Yea, in my spirit doth thy spirit shine,
AS shines sii beam in drop of dew,
Naught! But i've and Hopes pinions fly,
Eager. toward thy presence; for in thee
| live and brpath n anal n wa1 hjUh
Even to the tprone of the divinity
l am, q Goi! aad 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 immensely
Still l am samehing fashioned by thy hand
[ hold middle rank. twixt heaven and earth,
On the last verge of mortal being stand;
Close to the. .rea m where angels havetheir birth,
just on the boundary of the spirit hand.
The chain of being is complete in me
In me S matter asst gradation lost
And the mex step IS spirit Deity!
can command tbe lightning, and am dust
A monarch, and slave; a worm god
Whence came here and how? so marvellous
Constructed and conceived unknown This clod
Lives sure ythFough some higher energy;
From utitsef alone it could not be.
Creatorl Yes thy.wisdom and thy word
gre tea me. InOu so lrce or life ana gOOd
Thou spirit of my spirit and my Lord
Thy light thy love, in their bright plenitude
Filled me with 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, its Author, thee
Oh thought ineffable! Oh vision blestl
(Though worthless our conceptions all ofthee);
Yet shall thy shadowed image ill our breast,
And wait its homage to the Diety.
God thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar;
Midst thy vast works, admire, obey, adore;
And when the tongue is eloquent no more
The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude.