(illuminated capital) How beautiful is Nature’s face! God made all things so fair, Each keeps its own allotted place, Nor hate, nor strife are there. The hill and the plain, The grass and forest tree, The mighty waters of the main, The lily on the lea,— The sunny sky is over all, And all is harmony. So in the social world we stand In God’s appointed way, And some He destines to command, And others to obey. The rich and the poor, The lowly and the great, The peasant at his cottage door, The Sovereign in her state,— One holy tie uniteth all Who on one Master wait. How glorious is the mountain height, Whence kindly streamlets flow To bless the peaceful valleys, bright With bending corn below! The fair mountain-crown Shall envy assail, Or pride trample down The harvest of the vale?— The unity in Nature’s world In Man’s world should prevail. Oh! let not Satan overthrow The order God designed; The seeds of bitter envy sow, And pride, among mankind. Let rich love the poor, The humble bless the great, The servant guard the master’s store, The monarch serve the state,— Each—in his separate sphere—to God His talents consecrate. |