‘LET THERE BE LIGHT.’

‘Let there be light;’ and through the abysmal deep,

Where Darkness sat enthroned in silent state,

A tremor passed, as though propitious Fate

Had roused some charmèd castle from the sleep

That sealed all eyes from battlement to keep;

For man or friend the warder dare not wait

To parley with the Voice outside the gate,

For living thing must walk, fly, swim, and creep.

‘Let there be light:’ thus at Creation’s dawn,

Ere earth had shape, the glorious mandate ran.

Nature obeyed; and o’er the face of night

Went forth the rosy streaks of our first morn.

Still Nature keeps to one unvarying plan,

And God-like souls still cry: ‘Let there be light.’

Albert Francis Cross.

Printed and Published by W. & R. Chambers, 47 Paternoster Row, London, and 339 High Street, Edinburgh.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] It should be understood that this series of articles deals mainly with English as apart from Scotch law.

[2] In Scotland, the Testament is not made use of in taking the oath. The witness is only required to hold up his right hand, and repeat the words of the oath after the administrator.