Inspiration
FE of Ages, richly poured,
Love of God, unspent and free,
Flowing in the Prophet’s
And the People’s liberty!
Never was to chosen race That unstinted tide confined;
Thine is every time and place,
Fountain sweet of heart and mind!
Secret of the morning stars,
Motion of the oldest hours, Pledge through elemental
Of the coming spirit’s powers!
Rolling planet, flaming sun,
Stand in nobler man complete;
Prescient laws Thine errands run, Frame the shrine for Godhead meet.
Homeward led, the wondering
Upward yearned in joy or awe,
Found the love that waited nigh,
Guidance of Thy guardian Law. In the touch of earth it thrilled;
Down from mystic skies it burned:
Right obeyed and passion
Its eternal gladness earned.
Breathing in the thinker’s creed, Pulsing in the hero’s blood,
Nerving simplest thought and deed,
Freshening time with truth and good,
Consecrating art and song,
Holy book and pilgrim track, Hurling floods of tyrant
From the sacred limits back,— Life of Ages, richly poured,
Love of God, unspent and free,
Flow still in the Prophet’s word And the People’s liberty!
Samuel Johnson
Other author posts
The Winters Walk
Behold, my fair, where'er we rove, What dreary prospects round us rise, The naked hill, the leafless grove, The hoary ground, the frowning skies
From Boethius De Consolatione Philosophiae Book III Metre 5
The man who pants for ample sway, Must bid his passions all obey; Must bid each wild desire be still, Nor yoke his reason with his will:
Drury-lane Prologue Spoken by Mr Garrick
When Learning's triumph o'er her barb'rous foes First rear'd the stage, immortal Shakespear rose; Each change of many-colour'd life he drew, Exhausted worlds, and then imagin'd new: Existence saw him spurn her bounded reign, And panting Time toil'...
Evening Ode
To Stella: Evening now from purple Sheds the grateful gifts she brings; Brilliant drops bedeck the mead,
