Scriptural verses have ever been favorites, especially passages from the Psalms: "Man is like a thing of nought, his time passeth away like a shadow." "My time is in Thy hand." "Put not off from day to day." "Oh, remember how short my time is." Some of the Latin mottoes are very beautiful.
Poets have written special verses for sun-dials. These noble lines are by Walter Savage Landor:—
IN HIS OWN IMAGE THE CREATOR MADE,
HIS OWN PURE SUNBEAM QUICKENED THEE, O MAN!
THOU BREATHING DIAL! SINCE THE DAY BEGAN
THE PRESENT HOUR WAS EVER MARKED WITH SHADE.
The motto, Horas non numero nisi serenas, in various forms and languages, has ever been a favorite. From an old album I have received this poem written by Professor S. F. B. Morse; there is a note with it in Professor Morse's handwriting, saying he saw the motto on a sun-dial at Worms:—
TO A. G. E.
Horas non numero nisi serenas.
The sun when it shines in a clear cloudless sky
Marks the time on my disk in figures of light;
If clouds gather o'er me, unheeded they fly,
I note not the hours except they be bright.
So when I review all the scenes that have past
Between me and thee, be they dark, be they light,
I forget what was dark, the light I hold fast;
I note not the hours except they be bright.
Samuel F. B. Morse,