10 OCTOBER 1868, Page 17

TORRENT HYMN.

(Locu CORUISK, SKYE.)

r.

THE Torrent fills the air 1Vith a terrible voice of prayer : "God the Lord !

From the hollow of Thy hand, In the darkness of the land I was pour'd ; And in solitude I beat Round thy dimly shining feet On the scaur, While thou standest looking down Upon multitude and town From afar ; While the black lake broodeth still, hark! the voices of the hill How they die !

And I answer deep and loud, To the passing thunder-cloud, With a cry !

Lo! the seasons of the year, Glide below thee with no fear, While still thou leanest here

On thy sword—

Yea, stilly night and day thou dost gaze on sea and shore, On thy feet the rainbow hovers and my troubled waters roar, While below thee, in the valleys, men adore and implore God the Lord !"

Full clear the Torrent saith To the heart that hearkeneth - "God the Lord !

Who shall meet Thee in thy might, Who stay thee if thou smite With thy sword?

In a solitary place Where the silence of thy face Dwells like snow, Thou abidest night and day, And the troubled waters play Down below ; There is stillness in thy skies And the wonder of thine eyes None may sound, On thy face there is no change, While thy shadow falleth strange All around ; Yea, from silent height to height Goes the murmur of thy might, And the people name thy light And thy word ; And stilly evermore thou abidest out of reach, On thy feet the rainbow flutters, and my waters boil for speech,, While from valley unto valley mortals preach and beseech God the Lord ! "