“Hail Father, Creator; Thou who gavest into our hands the earth, with
its fullness; all hail! Thy children, fashioned after thine own
excellence, we stand, rejoicing. Greater than the earth are we; greater
than the sea, that vast stream which compasses all land, forever
proclaiming thy praises; greater than the orbs of day and night; greater
than the elements, thy ministers; for thou didst speak unto our fathers,
and didst promise to raise the seed of Adam higher than the angels. The
thunder serves us, obedient to thy will; and the quick lightning; and
the clouds, pregnant with rain. In the air we find thy mercies, and
every tree, and every flower speaks of thee. Accept, accept our great
gratitude; and keep us, even as thou keepest all else.”
Again low bending, and Erix and Zella, light of foot, passed onward to
the chase.