Again we hail the opening morn,

Again breaks forth the day new-born,

Which, rising in victorious might,

Chases away black-wandering night!

Again, my mind, in early songs

Praise Him to whom all praise belongs;

Who gave to morning dawn the light

Who gave the glittering stars to night,

Which to their Maker and their King

10Around the world in chorus sing.

For o'er prolific matter, high,

Moves ether pure in fiery sky;

Where glides the moon in glorious trim,

Cutting the last encircling rim:

For to the eighth revolving stream

The star-borne courses brightly gleam.

But now beyond the starry poles

A counter sea of glory rolls,

Unbosomed; and with dance divine

20Doth the Eternal Mind enshrine,

Which covered hath with hoary wings

The palace of the King of kings.

What is beyond none may relate,

Nor mind of man can penetrate:

Eternal severance restrains,

And happy silence ever reigns.

From Root, or Spring, or Fountain one

A threefold lighted Form hath shone:

For where the Father dwells above,

30There dwelleth too His own heart's love,

His glorious Son, wisdom perfèct,

And of all worlds the Architect:

And in the Unity combined

The Spirit's holy Light hath shined.

One Root of Good, one Fount of Love,

Whence sprung the bliss supreme above:

And the bright holy lamps divine

In equal glory ever shine.

And thence in this fair world of ours,

40With high-born intellectual powers,

A chorus now of deathless kings

The Triune glory ever sings.

And near the Fount of Love and Truth

Angelic band in changeless youth,

Guided by holy Wisdom's mind,

Immortal wreath of beauty find.

But some with dark averted eyes

Fall mindless from the lofty skies

Downward the gloomy depths among,

50And bring the higher world along;

Down, down to Matter's utmost bound,

Where, settling in the depth profound,

Nature assigns them birth and place,

A God-like,¹²¹²Lit: A much-talking and much-plotting crowd of demons (i. e. demigods). though God-fallen race.

Hence giant heroes took their birth,

The mighty conquerors of earth;

And hence Breath sown o'er all the ground

Each varying type of life hath found.

But all things to Thy counsel hold,

60Things past, or present, new or old:

Whate'er we have, whate'er we share,

Of all from Thee the sources are.

The Father and the Mother Thou,

Male, female, unto Thee we bow:

Or voice be heard, or all be still,

'Tis just as ordered by Thy will.

'And Thou or Nature Thyself art,

Or Nature is Thy counterpart:

And Thou art King; and ages all

70Within Thine age unmeasured fall.

May I my song aright renew,

O Thou! the Root whence all things grew!

Hail! Thou, the world's Original;

Hail! Thou, the Spring, First Cause of all.

All numbers blending into one,

The Uncreated, God alone!

All hail, all hail,¹³¹³χαιρε--χαιροις--χαιρειν. We cannot imitate in English the beautiful play on these words. Thou One Divine!

All joy, all happiness be Thine!

Bend Thou, O bend propitious ear,

80And this my hymn of praises bear,

Speed on true Wisdom's opening day,

Pour blessings down in rich array:

Yea, grace-distilling streams pour down,

That I may win contentment's crown

In life's sweet calm; the happy mean

Give me, riches and want between.

Off from my limbs diseases ward,

My soul from stormy passions guard:

Let no dark thoughts my steps attend:

90My life from biting cares defend;

Lest, mind, borne down by earthly ill,

To soar should find nor time nor will.

But grant me with free wing to rise,

And join the chorus of the skies,

And there with Thine for ever sing

The glories of my God and King!