The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-06
GOD.

his Narrative, that 1t has been rendered into
up, embroidered with gold, in the temple OF
Jeddo. An honor somewhat similar has been
into the chinese nd
Written EN- on Piece Of rich & and
his poem is printed from the San FTaHel,os
Argonaut, by request of Colonel John J. Clagus,
who regards it with great admiration.
o Thou eternal One! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy, all motion guide
Unchanged thru times all-devastating fight!
Thou only God-there is no God beside!
Being above all beingsl Mighty One,
Whom none can comprehend and none explored
Who tllst existence with Thyself alone
Embracing all, supporting, ruling DER
Being whom we call God, and know no naorsi
In its sublime research, philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep-may count
The sands or the SUMS rays-but Godl for Thee
There Is no weight nor measurei none can
mount
Up to Thy mysteries; Reasons brightest spark.
Tho kindled by Thy light In vain would try
To trace thy counsels Infinite and dark;
And thought is lost ere thought can soar %
high.
Even like past moments in eternity.
Thou from primeva1 nothingness didst call
First chaos then e1stencs-Lord! In Thee
Eternity had its foundation; all
Sprung forth from Thee-of light, Joy, hxp.
mony,
Sole Original life, all beauty Thine,
Thy word created ALL and doth create:
Thy sDlendor fills all space with rays divine;
Thou art, and vert, and shalt be! Gloriousl
Light-givins, sustaining potentats,
Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround
Upheld by Thee by Thee inspired with breaths
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound,
And beautifully mingled life. and death!
AS sparks mount upwards from the fiery blasa
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.
million torches lighted by Thy hand
Wander unwearied thru the blue abyss
They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command,
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss,
What shall we call them7 Piles OF crystal light
glorious company of golden streams
Lamps OF celestial ether burning bright
Suns lighting systems with their Joyous beamsa
But Thou to these art the noon to night.
Yes! as drop Of water in the sea,
All this magnifcence in Thee Is lost
What are ten thousand worlds compared to
Thee?
Tho multiplied by myriads and arrayed
| In all the glory Of sublimest thought,
| Is but atom in the balance, weighed
Against Thy greatness-is cipher brought
Against infnity! What am then? Naughti
|
Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too,
Yes! in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine,
AS shines the sunbeam in drop of dew.
Naught! but live. and on hopes pinions fly
Eager towards Thy presence-for in Thee
1 live and breathe, and dwell aspiring high,
| Even to the throne Of Thy divinity.
| 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;
i Tho but an atom midst immensely,
Stin am something fashioned by Thy hand!
| hold middle rank 'twIxt heaven and earth
On the last verge Of mortal being stand
Close to the realms where angels havc their
Just on the boundaries Of the spirit landi
The chain Of being is complete in me
In me Is matters last graduation lost,
And the next step is spirit-deity!
Il can command the lightning, and am dusti
a monarch and slave-a worm, god!
Whence came here. and how: so marvelously
Constructed and conceived? unknown! this clod
i Lives surely thru some higher energy
For from itself alone it could not be!
) Creator, yes! Thy wisdom and Thy word
!, Created me! Thou source of life and goodl
Thou spirit of my spirit and my Lord
Thy light. Thy love. in their bright plenitude
Filled me with an immortal soul. to spring
Over the abyss of death: and bade 1t wear
Thy garments of eternal day, and wing
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere,
Even to Its source, to Thee, Its author therA
O thoughts inefable! oh visions blest!
, Tho worthless conceptions all Of Thee,
, Yet shall Thy Swallowed image fill our breast,
And watt its homage to Thy deity.
God thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar,
, Thus seek Thy presence-Reing wise and goodf
Midst Thy vast works admire obey, adore;
Aand when the tongue Is eloquent no more,
Il Translated from the Russian OF Gabriel Roman
owitch Derzhavin, by John Bowring.