Classic Poem

God's sovereign dominion over his creatures.

Say, in what creature's debt am I,
That as injur'd can whine?
For what's beneath and 'bove the sky
Is all and wholly mine.

Ev'n brutal hosts spread my report,
From smallest mites and snails,
To monsters of the biggest sort,
The crocodiles and whales.

My sole dominion, sov'reign power,
I'll further yet display,
In my huge creature, nam'd before,
With a more close survey.

Of the Loviathan's parts and power.

His parts, his pow'r I'll not conceal,
Nor his proportion fair;
For these, by signs, my name reveal,
My skill and pow'r declare.

A monster comely! yea, let none
At me obliquely strike,
To call ought ugly I have done,
Till they can do the like.

Of his garments and jaws.

Who can discover or disclose,
His skinny garment's face?
Who dare approach his mouth or nose,
With bridle him to brace?

He that his mouth dares ope would see
In's jaws the throne of death;
Long spears, like murd'ring teeth, which he
In dreadful order hath.
Of his scales.

With scales, like shields, compact he's stor'd,
These are his strength and pride;
His coat of mail that does the sword
And glitt'ring dart deride.

They are so fast and firmly bound,
So close together join'd,
That air itself, which floats around,
Can no admission find.

Of his Sneezing, Eyes, Mouth, and Nostrils.

His sneezing terror breeds on sight;
For, from his nostrils flies
A flash, like that of lightning bright.
When darted through the skies.

His shining eyes, with splendid blaze,
The neighb'ring meads adorn;
Bright dawning lucid rays,
The beauties of the morn;

While also fiery reeking breath
Breaks from his hallow throat,
As from a burning forge beneath,
Or caldron boiling hot.

Of his Breath and Neck.

His lips do, godlike, wrath proclaim,
To such as move his ire;
For from his mouth leap smoke and flame,
With streaming sparks of fire.

When's neck, his seat of strength, he rears,
Then sorrow and annoy,
That march before with woes and fears,
Make up his pompous joy.

Triumphant terrors, passing bound,
His hideous pomp compose;
And dread that seizes all around
Where-e'er he comes or goes.

Of his Flakes and Heart.

His flakes of flesh so fast involv'd,
So firm in every part;
Their joining scarce can be dissolv'd,
By violence or art.

His heart is like a marble hard;
Relentless in his breast;
Which ne'er did tender moans regard,
Nor pity e'er express'd.

Of his Risings and Breakings.

When like a mount, amidst the waves,
He lifts his monstrous head,
The boldest boasters will, as slaves,
His awful presence dread.

The stoutest seaman tremble now,
Each like a quaking leaf,
Lest he o'erturn their ships, or do
Some terrible mischief.

His water-breakings threat'ning death,
Themselves they purify,
And deprecate impending wrath,
As doom'd anon to die.

Of his Undaunted Courage.

Should they attempt with sword in hand,
The monster to attack;
Bright steel in bits, like crumbling sand,
Would break upon his back.

Vain's the defensive coat of mail,
Th' offensive javelin;
For hardly spears or darts avail
To pierce his scaly skin.
The iron's but, in his esteem,
A bulrush by the flood;
And brassy weapons to him seem
But shafts of rotten wood.

Fierce arrows cannot make him flee;
Sling stones and darts appear
But straw to him; he laughs to see
The shaking of the spear.

Of his terrible Motion in the Waters.

When in the deep he rolls aside,
From place to place remote,
He agitates the waves and tide
Like to a boiling pot.

His motion so ferments the streams,
The foaming waters face,
A pot of boiling ointment seems
And shows a stern grimace.

His frothy track, when-e'er he swims
And rides his wat'ry stage,
So bright appears, the ocean seems,
As hoary grown with age.

Such foam and froth his path pursue,
They seem to fence his rear,
And turn the water's azure hue,
To white with sudden fear.

Of his Size, Strength, and Dominion.

In bulk and strength 'mong animals
His equal is not found:
Though he, of stature low, but crawls,
And creeps along the ground.

Yet he the proudest warrior beast
Insultingly disdains;
And, fearless made, o'er all the rest
He like a monarch reigns.

The strongest creatures on the earth
Do tremble at his sight;
He them in pieces tears with mirth,
And with his sportive might.

With scorn he sees each lofty thing,
The stoutest to deride;
Yea, bears his Maker's stamp, as King
O'er all the sons of pride.