The cloudy pillar glided slow;

By night, Arabia's crimsoned sands

Returned the fiery column's glow.

3Thus, present still, though now unseen,

When brightly shines the prosperous day,

Be thoughts of thee a cloudy screen,

To temper the deceitful ray!

4And O, when gathers on our path,

In shade and storm, the frequent night,

Be thou, long-suffering, slow to wrath,