The Spacious Firmament on high

Joseph Addison 1672 (Milston) – 1719 (Holland House, London)



The Spacious Firmament on high,
With all the blue Ethereal Sky,
And spangled Heav'ns, a Shining Frame,
Their great Original proclaim:
Th' unwearied Sun, from day to day,
Does his Creator's Pow'r display,
And publishes to every Land
The Work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the Evening Shades prevail,
The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale,
And nightly to the list'ning Earth
Repeats the Story of her Birth:
Whilst all the Stars that round her burn,
And all the Planets, in their turn,
Confirm the Tidings as they rowl,
And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole.
What though, in solemn Silence, all
Move round the dark terrestrial Ball?
What tho' nor real Voice nor Sound
Amid their radiant Orbs be found?

In Reason's Ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious Voice,
For ever singing, as they shine,
The Hand that made us is Divine.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 09, 2023

46 sec read
98

Quick analysis:

Scheme AABBCCDD EEFFGGEXHHII JJKK
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 815
Words 150
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 12, 4

Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison was an English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician. more…

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