To Noah, for a sign the Flood was gone; And, lo! the Ark still nearest Heaven sat, Like a proud Monarch on his earthly throne, Then God commanded Noah to go forth; And, with him, all things that were in the Ark. And he, and his, were blessed, of Heavenly Worth, Sung loud his mounting hymn of praise and love: Great swell of minstrelsy, that waked the Grove Where, 'midst this wond'rous harmony, anew, Man once more raised an altar to his GOD! And Noah found great favour in the sight Of the MOST HIGH, and, for his love, all things That walked and crawled upon the earth-of flight And all the finny tribes the river brings Or the great sea contains, to man were given, To be by him controlled and subjugate: And, for his use, dominion under Heaven, O'er all in Earth remained, interminate. With Man, that He would ne'er again infold When I shall bring a cloud over the earth, GOD's promise made to all posterity. And all things had increased, and multiplied : And man knew but one language; and, at length, He grew in worldly consequence and pride. Forgetful of his MAKER's word; in strength Of very wayward wilfulness, he dared, A mighty Tower, whose vast summit reared Its impious head to Heaven, irreverently, As Man's defiance to his MAKER'S will To drown the world again! Then, on his tongue Fell down confusion; that at once did fill The earth with language various; and among All men, not one did know his fellow's speech: And they left off to build this City, strange, Of Babel, and were scattered, each from each, O'er the broad surface of the world's wide range. Thus was all concord in the land, for ill, Destroyed, and broken. Man, his several way, Departed, and was separate; and still It is the same, down to this very day! And wars, and rumours of great wars, had died, And were again renewed. The soil had grown Full rich with murdered victims; and the tide Of wasteful blood and cruelty, was strewn For did the nations bend beneath one rod, And own one earthly master-where the gain?— When there would still exist a Power, high Above his own, that, with a thought, strikes down, And levels with the dust, the tyranny Would win with human blood a worthless crown! Oh! dread impiety, that takes a life From GOD! cuts off a mind- -a sea of thought That rolls to greatest actions, midst the strife Of warring elements, together brought In this fair frame; which, by especial grace, Is after formed in the celestial mould Of HIM we guess of, through the human face, Lit with Divine Intelligence, as told In every feature His impression sealed! Oh! impious, then, to smite the Cherubim! A Life, man has no right to claim,—nor yield, I call upon Thee, thou most perfect man, A sinless and long-honoured life,—that can Be granted, in great wisdom, unto few, The place of thy so dear-loved child, and spread A perfume of sweet holiness, denied To us, by distance through the myriad dead. That form the surface of the wond'rous way, Old time and Nature, in close unity, Are working, outward still, to that Great Day, Shall teach us of a bright Eternity! |