THE HYMN OF CLEANTHES. Gilbert West Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T116245 1122 K093079.001 Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. I. [The second edition]. London printed for G. Pearch 1770 pp. 68-70. 4v. ; 8⁰.

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THE HYMN OF CLEANTHES Cleanthes , the author of this hymn , was a stoic philosopher , a disciple of Zeno . He wrote many pieces , none of which are come down to us , but this and a few fragments , which are printed by H. Stephens , in a collection of philosophical poems . . BY GILBERT WEST , ESQ . O Under various sacred names ador'd ! Divinity supreme ! all-potent Lord ! Author of nature ! whose unbounded sway And legislative power all things obey ! Majestic Jove ! all hail ! To thee belong The suppliant prayer , and tributary song : To thee from all thy mortal offspring due ; From thee we came , from thee our being drew ; Whatever lives and moves , great Sire ! is thine , Embodied portions of the soul divine . Therefore to thee will I attune my string , And of thy wondrous power for ever sing . The wheeling orbs , the wandering fires above , That round this earthly sphere incessant move , Through all this boundless world admit thy sway , And roll spontaneous where thou point'st the way . Such is the awe imprest on nature round When through the void thy dreadful thunders sound . Those flaming agents of thy matchless power , Astonish'd worlds , hear , tremble , and adore . Thus paramount to all , by all obey'd , Ruling that reason which thro' all convey'd Informs this general mass , thou reign'st ador'd , Supreme , unbounded , universal Lord . For nor in earth , nor earth-encircling floods , Nor yon etherial pole , the seat of gods , Is ought perform'd without thy aid divine ; Strength , wisdom , virtue , mighty Jove , are thine ! Vice is the act of man , by passion tost , And in the shoreless sea of folly lost , But thou , what vice disorders , canst compose ; And profit by the malice of thy foes : So blending good with evil , fair with foul , As thence to model one harmonious whole : One universal law of truth and right ; But wretched mortals shun the heavenly light ; And , tho' to bliss directing still their choice , Hear not , or heed not reason's sacred voice , That common guide ordain'd to point the road That leads obedient man to solid good . Thence quitting virtue's lovely paths they rove , As various objects various passions move . Some thro' opposing crowds and threatning war Seek power's bright throne , and fame's triumphal car . Some , bent on wealth , pursue with endless pain Oppressive , sordid , and dishonest gain : While others , to soft indolence resign'd , Drown in corporeal sweets th'immortal mind . But , O great father , thunder-ruling God ! Who in thick darkness mak'st thy dread abode ! Thou , from whose bounty all good gifts descend , Do thou from ignorance mankind defend ! The clouds of vice and folly , O controul ; And shed the beams of wisdom on the soul ! Those radiant beams , by whose all-piercing flame Thy justice rules this universal frame . That honour'd with a portion of thy light We may essay thy goodness to requite With honorary songs and grateful lays , And hymn thy glorious works with ceaseless praise , The proper task of man : and sure to sing Of nature's laws , and nature's mighty king Is bliss supreme . Let gods with mortals join ! The subject may transport a breast divine .