Quick, and severe its own offence to find?

By tears, and groans, and never-ceasing care,

And all the pious violence of prayer?

Thus then, with fervency till now unknown,

I cast my heart before th' eternal throne,

In this great temple, which the skies surround,

For homage to its lord, a narrow bound.

"O thou! whose balance does the mountains weigh,

Whose will the wild tumultuous seas obey,

Whose breath can turn these watery worlds to flame,