I praised the earth, in beauty seen

I praised the earth, in beauty seen. Reginald Heber* (1783-1826).  From Heber’s Hymns written and adapted to the Weekly Church Service of the Year (1827), published after his death by his widow, Amelia. It was placed as the hymn for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity, though it has little connection with the Gospel or Epistle for that day. The original text was as follows: I prais’d the Earth, in beauty seenWith garlands gay of various green;I prais’d the Sea, whose ample fieldShone glorious as a silver shield;And Earth and Ocean seem’d to say,‘Our beauties are but for a day!’  I prais’d the Sun, whose chariot roll’dOn wheels of amber and of gold;I praised the Moon, whose softer eyeGleam’d...