42. WRITTEN IN A THUNDER-STORM.(notes)In that loud voice, that shakes the earth and skies,The ancient pagan heard Jove's angry tone,Speaking to mortals from the clouds, his throne;In that keen light, which rapid bursts and flies,And darts to earth, and dazzles mortal eyes,The pagan saw Jove's vengeful jav'lin thrown,To check man's pride, and cast presumption down,And vindicate the god as strong and wise.But now, since Franklin drew a spark from cloud,And prov'd it merely electricity,—Though, God! thou speak in thunders e'er so loud,Our empty science makes us deaf to Thee;And though thy lightnings glare, yet we are proud,And blind to Thy most glorious majesty!
42. WRITTEN IN A THUNDER-STORM.(notes)
In that loud voice, that shakes the earth and skies,The ancient pagan heard Jove's angry tone,Speaking to mortals from the clouds, his throne;In that keen light, which rapid bursts and flies,And darts to earth, and dazzles mortal eyes,The pagan saw Jove's vengeful jav'lin thrown,To check man's pride, and cast presumption down,And vindicate the god as strong and wise.But now, since Franklin drew a spark from cloud,And prov'd it merely electricity,—Though, God! thou speak in thunders e'er so loud,Our empty science makes us deaf to Thee;And though thy lightnings glare, yet we are proud,And blind to Thy most glorious majesty!
In that loud voice, that shakes the earth and skies,
The ancient pagan heard Jove's angry tone,
Speaking to mortals from the clouds, his throne;
In that keen light, which rapid bursts and flies,
And darts to earth, and dazzles mortal eyes,
The pagan saw Jove's vengeful jav'lin thrown,
To check man's pride, and cast presumption down,
And vindicate the god as strong and wise.
But now, since Franklin drew a spark from cloud,
And prov'd it merely electricity,—
Though, God! thou speak in thunders e'er so loud,
Our empty science makes us deaf to Thee;
And though thy lightnings glare, yet we are proud,
And blind to Thy most glorious majesty!