The Sun

The sun comes forth; each mountain height Glows with a tinge of rosy light, And flowers, that slumbered through the night, Their dewy leaves unfold; A flood of splendor bursts on high, And ocean's breast reflects a sky Of crimson and of gold. Oh! thou art glorious, orb of day! Exulting nations hail thy ray, Creation swells a choral lay, To welcome thy return; From thee all nature draws her hues, Thy beams the insect's wings suffuse, And in the diamond burn. Yet must thou fade; when earth and heaven By fire and tempest shall be riven, Thou, from thy sphere of radiance driven, Oh Sun! must fall at last; Another heaven, another earth, Far other glory shall have birth, When all we see is past. But He, who gave the word of might, 'Let there be light' and there was light, Who bade thee chase the gloom of night, And beam, the world to bless; For ever bright, for ever pure, Alone unchanging shall endure, The Sun of Righteousness!