The Order of the World

Wilt thou, a ready wight,
a stranger man,
a wise orator,
by words address,
ask a traveller much
about the vast creation,
desire that he tell thee
of wide-spread creatures'
the kindly powers
quick-moving,
those that to each wonder
* * *
* * *
through doom of God may bring
wonders many
to the tribes of men.
There is to each of these
a sign intelligent
to him, who, through wisdom,
can the world all
in mind embrace,
an inquiring man,
what of yore,
by art of song,
with their lays,
men oft related,
sagacious persons ;
they could rightly speak,
so that ever inquiring,
of the race of men,
and saying,
of the web of mysteries
ever mindful,
most of all men they knew ;
therefore shall ask
he who nobly lives,
the meditative man,
of the mysterious creations,
write down in his intellect
the word-hoard's craft,
fix it in his mind,
think on justly ;
it therefore should not irk
an energetic man,
that he wisely
the world perfect.
Learn this lore :
I shall to thee forthwith
the Creator's power
vast relate,
then thou, of mind sagacious,
in thy breast it may,
in thy mind, grasp,
if thy power be very great.
It is not of man's limit,
of those moving on earth,
that in mind he may
His lofty work
further investigate,
than the Lord enables him
to understand,
God's own command ;
but we have to thank
the great Lord,
to all eternity,
that us th' eternal King
on our soul perception
will bestow,
that we may easily
to the realm on high
ascend,
if in our soul we be not wanting,
and we will keep
heaven's King's behest.
Hear now this noble lay,
and thy mind confirm :
Lo ! at the beginning form'd
the Almighty Father,
the high Treasure-Ward,
heaven and earth,
the sea's wide abyss,
the visible creation,
which now in those afflictions,
through the Lord's hand,
raise and lift
the holy fruit ;
for so hath associated
he who well could
each with other ;
they should all bear
the firm behest,
as them the Director bade,
their various modes,
through the great mind :
so they to the world
beauty bring forth,
through the Lord's goodness,
and his deeds' grandeur,
bright praise,
in long time ;
they execute steadfastly
the Lord's eternal word,
in that pristine seat,
which the Lord for them placed.
Heaven's bright Guardian
holdeth carefully
the boundary of ocean,
his might draweth forth
heaven's candle,
and with it the seas
calleth and leadeth
the Lord of life ;
into his single clasp
all creatures ;
so through all time his
glory standeth,
of all judges
the most benevolent,
who for us this life created.
And this light brightness
cometh each morn,
over the misty hills,
wading o'er the waves,
wonderously appointed,
and with early dawn,
from the east cometh,
fair and winsome,
to the tribes of men ;
to each one living
beareth forth light,
brightest of brands !
and it may enjoy
each one on earth,
to whom eyesight
the just King of triumphs
would give.
Departs then with its glory,
into the western sky,
forth the great star,
in a body going,
until at eve
* * *
the depths of ocean traverses.
Gloom calleth other ;
night after cometh,
holdeth the mandate
of the holy Lord.
The heaven-bright sun,
clear, hasteneth,
by God's decree,
under earth's bosom,
a journeying star ;
for no mortal
so wise liveth,
that may its source,
through his own power know,
how over earth rideth
the gold-bright sun,
into that dusk obscurity,
under the throng of waters,
or who that light,
what habitants of earth,
may enjoy,
when he o'er ocean goeth ;
for so hath associated
he who well could,
day with night,
deep with low,
air with water-stream,
land with wave,
flood with flood,
fish with billows.
These works impair not,
but are well sustain'd,
stand stoutly,
firmly erected,
by vast powerful defences,
in that grandeur,
with which is rais'd
heaven and earth :
they shall be happy then,
who there inhabit.
Joyful is that earthly company,
that of hosts is greatest,
blessed unnumber'd,
bands of angels :
they see ever
their own King,
with eyes behold him,
have of each thing abundance,
nought to them is lacking,
to those who glory's King
see in heaven ;
their's is feast and joy,
ever, eternal,
in solace to the bless'd ;
therefore ought man to strive
his Creator to obey,
every child of men
to forsake vain lusts,
fading joys of life,
strive for the bliss of grace,
lay aside * *
every malignant enmity,
decline from sinful crimes,
go to the better realm.