ODE
TO
THE
NEW
YEAR
,
1769.
BY
MR.
PETER
CUNNINGHAME
.
AQUARIUS
rules
the
frozen
skies
,
Deep
frowning
clouds
on
clouds
arise
,
Fraught
with
the
thunder's
roar
;
With
fury
heaves
the
raging
main
,
When
foaming
billows
lash
in
vain
The
hoarse-resounding
shore
.
No
flowery
vale
now
charms
the
eye
;
No
tuneful
warblers
of
the
sky
Now
chear
the
lingering
hours
;
No
genial
ray
the
groves
illume
,
No
zephyrs
waft
their
mild
perfume
From
sighs
o'er
vernal
flowers
.
Tho'
blooming
scenes
are
now
no
more
,
That
aid
the
raptur'd
soul
to
soar
,
Poetic
thoughts
refine
;
Yet
still
the
moralizing
page
To
warm
an
unattentive
age
,
These
hoary
scenes
combine
.
With
this
I
hail
the
opening
year
,
Address
the
God
,
whose
works
appear
Through
each
harmonious
round
;
Who
rules
,
serenely
rules
the
storm
,
Who
gave
the
lurid
lightnings
form
,
Whose
thunders
rock
the
ground
.
O
Thou
!
alike
where
perfect
day
,
In
bright
refulgent
glories
play
,
Around
thy
awful
throne
!
When
seraphs
glow
with
sacred
fires
,
When
angels
tune
celestial
lyres
,
To
hymn
thy
praise
alone
!
Still
may
thy
providential
care
With
blessings
crown
the
rising
year
!
Impending
ills
restrain
!
Thy
wisdom
guide
my
youthful
Muse
!
Thy
sacred
eloquence
diffuse
,
And
consecrate
my
strain
!
While
thus
revolving
seasons
roll
,
Obsequious
to
thy
wise
controul
,
Obedient
to
thy
plan
;
With
silent
eloquence
they
preach
,
The
most
important
lessons
teach
,
To
cold
unthinking
man
.
Behold
thyself
reflected
here
!
The
Spring
proclaims
thine
infant
year
,
Gay
life
the
Summer's
bloom
;
Mild
Autumn
speaks
maturer
age
,
Confirms
thee
Fool
,
or
hails
thee
Sage
,
While
Winter
shews
the
tomb
.
Or
view
the
image
of
thy
soul
,
As
now
the
mountain
surges
roll
,
In
wild
tumultuous
roar
;
Fit
emblem
of
the
wrathful
mind
,
To
Anger's
tyrant
sway
consign'd
,
Where
reason
rules
no
more
:
Unlike
its
placid
form
,
serene
,
When
Zephyr
breathing
o'er
the
scene
,
Sheds
balmy
peace
around
;
Bless'd
emblem
of
the
conquering
soul
,
Whose
every
passion
knows
controul
,
While
conscious
joys
abound
!
That
this
may
prove
my
bounteous
share
,
Ascends
my
ever-constant
prayer
,
To
thee
,
all-perfect
Mind
;
O
aid
me
in
the
arduous
strife
,
Through
each
perplexing
maze
of
life
,
To
all
thy
ways
resign'd
!