Again, canst thou declare what way
The heav'nly Architect
His cloudy forges up did lay,
And in the air erect?

And how the mighty pond'rous mass
Aloft was thither brought,
From, which, soon as his lightnings pass,
Red thunderbolts are wrought?

Who raises vapours from the ground,
Which pois'd in liquid air,
Fall down in show'rs, through which around,
These dreadful lightnings glare?

How are the heav'nly acqueducts,
And water-pipes contriv'd,
Whence floods are to the thirsty flocks,
Fruits to the earth deriv'd?

Who doth the water-course divide,
And for the rain that falls
By drops, or violent show'rs, provide
Fit conduits and canals.

Discharg'd again to overflow,
As once the earth and hills;
Each drop does, by direction, go
To rivers and to rills.

Yet by the show'rs that fill the brooks,
Likewise the wilderness,
Refresh'd does in its cheerful looks
Alacrity express.

In places where no man resides,
Nor does the product share,
The Father of the rain provides
For's other creatures there.

Like healing balm distilling rains
Yield juice to plants and trees,
With drink restore the parched plains,
And thirsty mouths appease.

Then rising sap that round does glide
Thrusts out the tender bud,
And crowns with flow'ry verdant pride,
The deserts shady wood.

Say, to thy voice or orders will
The circling clouds attend?
And when thou bids them rain distill,
Will then the rain descend?

Will ready lightnings sudden fly,
Or through the æther shine,
And thunder-claps ring round the sky,
At thy command or mine?