Heav'n unfolds its richest vesture, Sparkling stars--etherial blue; Fairies dance with antic gesture; Or sip, delighted, morning dew. Gentle, smiling, Zephyrs, wander, Thro' the groves of verdant green; Toying with the lilac yonder-- Here, with the rose of blooming mien. Humming bees, on wafer pinions, Careful, thro' the blossoms roam: Searching all their flow'r dominions, The nectar tribute gather home. In th'embroider'd violet vale, Love, attended by the Graces, Tells his soft bewitching tale, While blushing fair ones hide their faces. How beautiful is the creation, In this time of mirth and joy? All is life--all animation: Nought our pleasures to annoy. --Oscar. _Phila. Repos._, III-152, May 7, 1803, Phila. [For introductory note, cf. the preceding.] UNIVERSAL SONG OF PRAISE. A Sapphic Ode. From the German of Bürde. "Alles was odem hat, lobe den Herrn!" All ye that live and breathe, O praise the Lord! With holy streams of joy, and exultation, Our souls are penetrated. O taste and see, how great, how good He is! His love and mercy, his truth and grace alone, Leads us to joys eternal. O ye enwraptur'd souls that serve the Lord Cherubim! Seraphim! Angels and Spirits! Love is your felicity. Thirst on, our souls--thirst for the living streams; Bless'd and holy! and for ever love Him! Who us, in love, created. Yes, we'll love and adore Him! yes, the dust Loves its Redeemer; and all our anxious tears Himself shall wipe away. --Oscar. _Phila. Repos._, III-152, May 7, 1803, Phila. [For introductory note, cf. _Morning Song of Praise_, preceding.] THE SHOE PINCHES. A Song of Shoe-maker, William. From Kotzebue. Though idlers riot, eat and drink, And on soft downy pillows sink, They are not free from woe: For every man must have his share Of trouble, and must know best where _The shoe does pinch his toe_. When rainy, wise men boots will wear, But shoes put on when all is fair, And take times as they go; No man that ever wore a shoe Will say if he be fair and true, _It never pinch'd his toe_. _Balance and Columbian Repos._, II-288, Sept. 6, 1803, Hudson, (N. Y.). BENEVOLENCE.--A FABLE. Imitated from the German of Gellert. _Port Folio_, III-352, Oct. 29, 1803, Phila. [Also in _Amer. Universal Mag._, I-28, Jan. 2, 1797, Phila.] THE NOSEGAY. [Prose translation.] _Phila. Repos._, IV-4, Jan. 7, 1804, Phila. [S. Gessner, _Der Blumenstrauss_. W. Hooper, _New Idylles_, p. 37.]