Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 36.djvu/93

Space which contains the universal soul,
Sees in its bosom vast creation roll;
God speaks, and at His voice old Chaos flies,
All things towards a common centre rise;
The spring of nature, by dark ignorance night
Concealed, had long lain hid from mortal sight:
Newton the compass takes, he lifts the veil,
He makes truth's light o'er ignorance prevail:
With learned hand he to my eye displays
That star's bright robe which seasons rules and days;
The sparkling diamond's variegated dyes,
With gorgeous lustre dazzle human eyes;
Each ray's pure substance to spectators show
The various colors of fair Iris's Bow;
Blended, they light impart to mortal eyes,
They vivify the world, and fill the skies.
Ye ministering angels to the king of kings,
Ye burning seraphs, who with constant wings
Cover the Almighty Power's eternal throne
Of men, would you not envy him alone?
He rules the sea, I see the humid deep,
Time ever with attracting Cynthia keep;
Its efforts strong a central power restrains,
Ocean rolls back, and in its bed remains;
Comets which men as much as thunder fear,
To terrify the world at length forbear;
In an ellipse immense your wanderings end,
Rise near the star of day and near descend;
Your fiery tresses shake, returning strive,
Exhausted, drooping nature to revive.
Sister of Phœbus, star which in the skies,
Long time deceived the inquirer's erring eyes: