CHRISTOPHER SMART

Strong is the horse upon his speed; Strong in pursuit the rapid glede,

Which makes at once his game : Strong the tall ostrich on the ground; Strong through the turbulent profound

Shoots Xiphias to his aim.

Strong is the lion like a coal His eyeball, like a bastion's mole

His chest against the foes : Strong the gier-eagle on his sail; Strong against tide th' enormous whale

Emerges as he goes.

But stronger still, in earth and air, And in the sea, the man of prayer,

And far beneath the tide : And in the seat to faith assigned, Where ask is have, where seek is find,

Where knock is open wide.

Precious the penitential tear; And precious is the sigh sincere,

Acceptable to God : And precious are the winning flowers, In gladsome Israel's feast of bowers

Bound on the hallow'd sod.

Glorious the sun in mid career; Glorious th' assembled fires appear;

Glorious the comet's train : Glorious the trumpet and alarm ; Glorious the Almighty's stretch'd-out arm ;

Glorious th' enraptured main :

glede] kite. Xiphias] sword-fish.

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