Irradiate All the Earth Lyrics

"If life is an illusion it's a pretty painful one" (Michel Houellebecq)

Since no resisting cause from spirit flows
thy universal presence to oppose
no obstacles by nature's hand impressed
thy subtle and ethereal beams arrest
not swayed by matter is they course benign
or more direct or more oblique to shine

Nor motion's laws can speed thy active course
nor strong repulsion's powers obstruct thy force

Since there is no convexity in mind
why are thy genial rays to parts confined?
While the chill north with thy bright beam is blest
why should fell darkness half the south invest?

Was it decreed, fair freedom! At thy birth
that thou should'st ne'er irradiate all the earth?

Thee only, sober goddess! I attest
in smiles chastised, and decent graces dressed
to thee alone, pure daughter of the skies
the hallowed incense of the bard should rise
not that mad liberty, in whose wild praise
too oft he trims his prostituted bays

Not that unlicensed monster of the crowd
whose roar terrific bursts in peals so loud

Too oft he trims his prostituted bays

Nor motion's laws can speed thy active course
nor strong repulsion's powers obstruct thy force
was it decreed, fair freedom! At thy birth
that thou should'st ne'er irradiate all the earth?