And earth and ocean seem’d to say,

“Our beauties are but for a day.”

I prais’d the sun, whose chariot roll’d

On wheels of amber and of gold:

I prais’d the moon, whose softer eye

Gleam’d sweetly through the summer sky;

And moon and sun in answer said,

“Our days of light are numbered.”

O God! O good beyond compare!

If thus thy meaner works are fair;