What skilful limner e'er would choose
To paint the rainbow's varying hues,
Unless to mortal it were read more

What skilful limner e'er would choose
To paint the rainbow's varying hues,
Unless to mortal it were given
To dip his brush in dyes of heaven?

A rainbow in the morning
Is the Shepherd's warning;
But a rainbow at night
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A rainbow in the morning
Is the Shepherd's warning;
But a rainbow at night
Is the Shepherd's delight.

Over her hung a canopy of state,
Not of rich tissue, nor of spangled gold,
But of read more

Over her hung a canopy of state,
Not of rich tissue, nor of spangled gold,
But of a substance, though not animate,
Yet of a heavenly and spiritual mould,
That only eyes of spirits might behold.

Hung on the shower that fronts the golden West,
The rainbow bursts like magic on mine eyes!
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Hung on the shower that fronts the golden West,
The rainbow bursts like magic on mine eyes!
In hues of ancient promise there imprest;
Frail in its date, eternal in its guise.

And, lo! in the dark east, expanded high,
The rainbow brightens to the setting Sun.

And, lo! in the dark east, expanded high,
The rainbow brightens to the setting Sun.

There was an awful rainbow once in heaven;
We know her woof, her texture; she is given
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There was an awful rainbow once in heaven;
We know her woof, her texture; she is given
In the dull catalogue of common things.
Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings.

Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow in the sky!

Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow in the sky!

Pride of the dewy morning,
The swain's experienced eye
From thee takes timely warning.
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Pride of the dewy morning,
The swain's experienced eye
From thee takes timely warning.
Nor trusts the gorgeous sky.
- John Keble,

God loves an idle rainbow,
No less than laboring seas.

God loves an idle rainbow,
No less than laboring seas.