And genius hath electric power,

Which earth can never tame;

Bright suns may scorch, and dark clouds lower-
Its flash is still the same.

The dreams we loved in early life,

May melt like mist away;

High thoughts may seem, mid passion's strife,

Like Carthage in decay;

And proud hopes in the human heart

May be to ruin hurled;

Like mouldering monuments of art

Heaped on a sleeping world:

Yet, there is something will not die,

Where life hath once been fair;

Some towering thoughts still rear on high,

Some Roman lingers there!

He wields the awful lightning-brand,
The war-torch of the storm,
Whether upon the Northern pines
It rocks its cloud-wrapt form;

Or, conquering, tramps right royally
The hollow-sounding seas,

Or holds high carnival among
The crashing mountain trees!

His earthquakes shake the eternal hills And toss "old ocean's locks;"

82

GOD IN NATURE.

The hungry breakers howl amain,
Between the dreadful shocks:

And the swift whirlwind spinning o'er
The mountain bald and pale,
Raves wildly to the angry flood
That thunders in the vale.

He sows death in the red simoon,
And cities shrink aghast;

He speaks! and mist-wrapt pestilence,
In horrid gloom, moves past!

Oh mighty is the Lord of Hosts!
Of all earth's kings, the King!
Behold! he shakes the mountain pine,
And plumes the whirlwind's wing!

And from his throne of majesty,

Upon the bended sky,

Around the universe he casts

His all-beholding eye!

EVENING AFTER A BATTLE.

BY TIMOTHY DWIGHT.

ABOVE tall western hills, the light of day
Shot far the splendours of his golden ray;
Bright from the storm with tenfold grace he smiled,
The tumult softened, and the world grew mild.
With pomp transcendent, robed in heavenly dyes,
Arched the clear rainbow round the orient skies;
Its changeless form, its hues of beam divine,
-Fair type of truth and beauty's-endless shine
Around the expanse, with thousand splendours rare;
Gay clouds sailed wanton through the kindling air;
From shade to shade, unnumbered tinctures blend;
Unnumbered forms of wond'rous light extend:

In pride stupendous, glittering walls aspire,

Graced with bright domes, and crowned with towers of fire,
On cliffs cliffs burn; o'er mountains mountains roll:
A burst of glory spreads from pole to pole:

Rapt with the splendour, every songster sings,

Tops the high bough, and claps his glistening wings;

84

EVENING AFTER A BATTLE.

With new-born green, reviving nature blooms,
And sweeter fragrance freshening air perfumes.

Far south the storm withdrew its troubled reign;
Descending twilight dimmed the dusky plain;
Black night arose; her curtains hid the ground:
Less roared, and less, the thunder's solemn sound;
The bended lightning shot a brighter stream,

Or wrapped all heaven in one wide, mantling flame;
By turns, o'er plains, and woods, and mountains, spread
Faint, yellow glimmerings, and a deeper shade.

From parting clouds, the moon outbreaking shone,
And sate, sole empress, on her silver throne;
In clear, full beauty, round all nature smiled,

And claimed o'er heaven and earth, dominion mild;
With humbler glory, stars her court attend,
And blessed, and unioned, silent lustre blend.