The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

On what a charity ye come
To bless the latter spring!
How kind the visit that ye pay,
Like strangers on a rainy day.
‘On a Bed of Guernsey Lilies’
Lo, through her works gay nature grieves
How brief she is and frail,
As ever o’er the falling leaves
Autumnal winds prevail.
Yet still the philosophic mind
Consolatory food can find,
And hope her anchorage maintain:
We never are deserted quite;
’Tis by succession of delight
That love supports his reign.
‘On a Bed of Guernsey Lilies’
He sung of God—the mighty source
Of all things—the stupendous force
On which all strength depends;
From whose right arm, beneath whose eyes,
All period, pow’r, and enterprize
Commences, reigns, and ends.
‘A Song to David’ (1763) st. 18
Strong is the lion—like a coal
His eye-ball—like a bastion’s mole
His chest against his foes:
Strong, the gier-eagle on his sail,
Strong against tide, th’ enormous whale
Emerges as he goes.
‘A Song to David’ (1763) st. 76
But stronger still, in earth and air,
And in the sea, the man of pray’r;
And far beneath the tide;
And in the seat to faith assign’d,
Where ask is have, where seek is find,
Where knock is open wide.
‘A Song to David’ (1763) st. 77
Beauteous the fleet before the gale;
Beauteous the multitudes in mail,
Ranked arms and crested heads;