The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
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The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great Original proclaim.
Forever singing, as they shine,
The hand that made us is divine.

Or soar aloft to be the spangled skies
And gaze upon her with a thousand eyes.

Or soar aloft to be the spangled skies
And gaze upon her with a thousand eyes.

Where Andes, giant of the western star,
With meteor standard to the winds unfurl'd.

Where Andes, giant of the western star,
With meteor standard to the winds unfurl'd.

No one sees what is before his feet: we all gaze at the stars.
[Lat., Quod est ante pedes read more

No one sees what is before his feet: we all gaze at the stars.
[Lat., Quod est ante pedes nemo spectat: coeli scrutantur
plagas.]

Now twilight lets her curtain down
And pins it with a star.

Now twilight lets her curtain down
And pins it with a star.

In yonder pensile orb, and every sphere
That gems the starry girdle of the year.

In yonder pensile orb, and every sphere
That gems the starry girdle of the year.

Whilst twilight's curtain spreading far
Was pinned with a single star.

Whilst twilight's curtain spreading far
Was pinned with a single star.

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the
corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang read more

Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the
corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy?

The number is certainly the cause. The apparent disorder
augments the grandeur, for the appearance of care is highly read more

The number is certainly the cause. The apparent disorder
augments the grandeur, for the appearance of care is highly
contrary to our ideas of magnificence. Besides, the stars lie in
such apparent confusion, as makes it impossible on ordinary
occasion to reckon them. This gives them the advantage of a sort
of infinity.