See! through the heavenly arch
With silent stately march
   The starry ranks for ever sweep;
In graduate scale of might
They all are sons of light,
   And all their times and orders keep.

O glorious, countless host,
Which shall I praise the most,
   Your lustrous groups, or course exact ?
Ye on your way sublime
Defy confusing time
   Your light to dim, your path distract.

Earth's early fathers saw
The gospel and the law
   In the firm beauty of the skies :
O thou unswerving Will,
The unveiled heavens still
   Show Thee as glorious, good, and wise.

Lord of the starry night,
With awe and with delight
   Under thy temple dome we pray :
Still as we gaze above,
Temper our fear with love,
   That we may filial homage pay.

Not as the primal force
Impelling nature's course,
   We know Thee, but as Father dear :
Oh, if with foolish mind
We judge Thee weakly kind,
   Correct false love with filial fear.