THE SPIRIT OF MOTION.

Spirit of eternal motion!

Ruler of the stormy ocean,

Lifter of the restless waves,

Rider of the blast that raves

Hoarsely through yon lofty oak,

Bending to thy mystic stroke;

Man from age to age has sought

Thy secret — but it baffles thought!

Agent of the Deity!

Offspring of eternity,

Guider of the steeds of time

Along the starry track sublime,

Founder of each wondrous art,

Mover of the human heart;

Since the world's primeval day

All nature has confessed thy sway.

They who strive thy laws to find

Might as well arrest the wind,

Measure out the drops of rain,

Count the sands which bound the main,

Quell the earthquake's sullen shock,

Chain the eagle to the rock,

Bid the sun his heat assuage,

The mountain torrent cease to rage.

Spirit, active and divine —

Life and all its powers are thine!

Guided by the first great cause,

Sun and moon obey thy laws,

Which to man must ever be

A wonder and a mystery,

Known alone to him who gave

Thee sovereignty o'er wind and wave

And only chained thee in the grave!