Nature in awe to him Had dofft her gawdy trim, With her great Mafter fo to fympathize: It was no feafon then for her To wanton with the fun her lufty paramour. Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle air II. To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with finful blame, The faintly veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look so near upon her foul deformities. III. But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; 35 45 She crown'd with olive green, came foftly sliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an universal peace through sea and land. IV. No war, or battel's found Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung, 55 The hooked chariot stood, Unftain'd with hoftile blood, The trumpet fpake not to the armed throng, And kings fat ftill with awful eye, As if they furely knew their fovran Lord was by. 60 But V. But peaceful was the night, His reign of peace upon the earth began: Smoothly the waters kist, Whifp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed wave, VI. The stars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in ftedfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself befpake, and bid them go. VII. And though the fhady gloom Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for fhame, As his inferior flame 70 80 The new inlighten'd world no more should need; He faw a greater fun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear, VIII. The fhepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a rustic row ; Full little thought they then, That the mighty Pan 85 Was kindly come to live with them below; 90 Per Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their filly thoughts fo bufy keep. When fuch music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the ftringed noise, As all their fouls in blissful rapture took : The air fuch pleasure loath to lose, 95 99 With thousandecho's ftill prolongs each heav'nly clofe. X. Nature that heard fuch found, Of Cynthia's seat, the aery region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its last fulfilling; She knew fuch harmony alone 105 Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. XI. At laft furrounds their fight A globe of circular light, That with long beams the shame-fac'd night array`di The helmed Cherubim, And (worded Seraphim, Are feen in glittering ranks with wings difplay'd, Harping in loud and folemn quire, 115 With unexpreflive notes to Heav'n's new-born Heir. Such mufic (as 'tis faid) XII. But But when of old the sons of morning fung, While the Creator great His conftellations fet, And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And caft the dark foundations deep, 120 And bid the weltring waves their oozy channel keep. XIII. Ring out ye crystal Spheres, Once blefs our human ears, (If ye have pow'r to touch our fenfes fo) And let your filver chime Move in melodious time, 125 And let the bafe of Heav'n's deep organ blow, And with your ninefold harmony Make up full confort to th' angelic fymphony. For if fuch holy fong Inwrap our fancy long, XIV. 133 Time will run back,and fetch the age of gold, 135 And fpeckled Vanity Will ficken foon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mold, And Hell itself will pass away, 139 And leave her dolorous manfions to the peering day. XV. Yea Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, Orb'd in a rainbow; and like glories wearing Mercy will fit between, Thron'd in celeftial fheen, 145 With radiant feet the tiffued clouds down fteering And Heav'n, as at fome feftival, Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall. But XVI. But wifeft Fate fays no, This must not yet be fo, The babe lies yet in fmiling infancy, That on the bitter crofs Muft redeem our loss; So both himself and us to glorify: Yet firft to thofe ychain'd in fleep, 150 [deep, The wakeful trump of doom muft thunder through the And then at laft our blifs Full and perfect is, But now begins; for from this happy dạy. Th' old Dragon under ground In ftraiter limits bound,' Not half fo far cafts his ufurped fway, And wroth to fee his kingdom fail, Swindges the fcaly horror of his folded tail. The oracles are dumb, XIX. No voice or hideous hum 165 170 Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Apollo from his fhrine Can no more divine, 176 With hollow fhriek the steep of Delphos leaving. |