Urania ‎#188

188. When the fierce north wind with his airy forces

1 When the fierce north wind with his airy forces
Rears up the Baltick to a foaming fury,
And the red lightnings with a storm of hail comes,
Rushing amain down.

2 How the poor sailors stand amaz'd and tremble,
While the hoarse thunder like a bloody trumpet,
Roars a loud onset to the gaping waters,
Quick to devour them.

3 Such shall the noise be, and the wild disorder,
(If things eternal may be like these earthly)
Such the dire terror when the great archangel
Shakes the creation.

4 Tears the strong pillars of the vault of heaven,
Breaks up old marble, the repose of princes,
See the graves open and the bones arising.
Flames all around them.

5 Hark the shrill outcries of the guilty wretches!
Lively bright horror, and amazing anguish,
Stare thro' their eyelids, while the living worm lies
Gnawing within them.

6 Thoughts like old vultures prey upon their heartstrings,
And the smart twinges when the eye beholds the
Lofty judge, frowning, and a flood of vengeance
Rolling afore him.

7 Hopeless immortals, how they scream and shiver,
While devils push them to the pit wide yawning,
Hideous and gloomy, to receive them headlong
Down to the center.

8 Stop here my fancy (All away ye horrid
Doleful ideas) come arise to Jesus,
How he sits Godlike, and the saints around him,
Thron'd yet adoring.

9 O may I sit there when he comes triumphant,
Dooming the nations, then ascend to glory,
While our hosannas all along the passage
Shout the redeemer.

Text Information

• First Line: When the fierce north wind with his airy forces
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1761

Tune Information

• Name: JUDGMENT
• Key: D Major