LXIII. To Law

THE holy king of Gods and men I call,

Celestial Law, the righteous seal of all;

The seal which stamps whate'er the earth contains,

Nature's firm basis, and the liquid plains:

Stable, and starry, of harmonious frame, 5

Preserving laws eternally the same:

Thy all-composing pow'r in heaven appears,

Connects its frame, and props the starry spheres;

And shakes weak Envy with tremendous sound,

Toss'd by thy arm in giddy whirls around. 10

'Tis thine, the life of mortals to defend,

And crown existence with a blessed end;

For thy command and alone, of all that lives

Order and rule to ev'ry dwelling gives:

Ever observant of the upright mind, 15

And of just actions the companion kind;

Foe to the lawless, with avenging ire,

Their steps involving in destruction dire.

Come, bless, abundant pow'r, whom all revere,

By all desir'd, with favr'ing mind draw near; 20

Give me thro' life, on thee to fix my fight,

And ne'er forsake the equal paths of right.

LXIV.