76 THE RAINBOW. 



Can all that optics teach, unfold 

 Thy form to please me so, 



As when I dreamt of gems and gold 

 Hid in thy radiant bow. 



When Science from Creation's face 

 Enchantment's veil withdraws 



What lovely visions yield their place 

 To cold material laws. 



And yet, fair bow, no fabling dreams, 

 But words of the Most High, 



Have told why first thy robe of beams 

 Was woven in the sky. 



When o'er the green undeluged earth 

 Heaven's covenant thou didst shine, 



How came the world's grey fathers forth 

 To watch thy sacred sign ! 



And when its yellow lustre smiled 

 O'er mountains yet untrod. 



Each mother held aloft her child 

 To bless the bow of God. 



Methinks thy jubilee to keep, 

 The first-made anthem, rang 



On earth delivered from the deep, 

 And the first poet sang. 



Nor ever shall the Muse's eye 

 Unraptured greet thy beam : 



Theme of primeval prophecy, 

 Be still the poet's theme ! 



The earth to thee her incense yields, 

 The lark thy welcome sings, 



When glittering in the freshen'd fields 

 The snowy mushroom springs. 



How glorious is thy girdle cast 

 O'er mountain, tower, and town, 



Or mirror'd in the ocean vast, 

 A thousand fathoms down. 



