Christopher Smart Quotes

Lo, thro’ her works gay nature grieves How brief she is and frail, As ever o’er the falling leaves Autumnal winds prevail. Yet still the philosophic mind Consolatory food can find, And hope her anchorage maintain: We never are deserted quite; ’Tis by succession of delight That love supports his reign.

Glorious the northern lights a stream; Glorious the song, when God’s the theme; Glorious the thunder’s roar: Glorious hosanna from the den; Glorious the catholic amen; Glorious the martyr’s gore.

Beauteous the fleet before the gale; Beauteous the multitudes in mail, Rank’d arms and crested heads: Beauteous the garden’s umbrage mild, Walk, water, meditated wild, And all the bloomy beds.

Strong is the lion – like a coal His eye-ball – like a bastion’s mole His chest against the foes: Strong, the gier-eagle on his sail, Strong against tide, th’enormous whale Emerges as he goes.

For Adoration seasons change, And order, truth, and beauty range, Adjust, attract, and fill: The grass the polyanthus cheques; And polished porphyry reflects, By the descending rill.

For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life. For in his morning orisons he loves the sun and the sun loves him. For he is of the tribe of Tiger.