...thought they than That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below: Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. IX When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled...

...the Morning of Christ's Nativity' presents us with the shepherds 'Simply chatting in a rustic row': When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger struck, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture...

...Or in Milton's "On the Morning of Christ's Nativity" (96-100) we discover a more extended chiasmus: Divinely warbled voice Answering the stringed noise,...their souls, in blissful rapture took: The air such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echoes still pro/ongs each heavenly close. The sequence of phonetic...

...keep. When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger si rook , Divinely warbled voice Answering the stringed noise,...their souls in blissful rapture took: The air such pleasure loth to lose, With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. 100 10 Nature that...

...are preceded by four-stress rather than fivestress lines, and their function is more conspicuous : When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet...their souls in blissful rapture took : The air such pleasure loath to lose With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. Milton cannot, of course,...

...has that, is clad in complete steel. 2889 'On the Morning of Christ's Nativity' Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. MILVERTON Loid 19302890 The ideal committee is one with me as chairman, and two other members in bed...

...spear and shield were high up hung. 7536 'On the Morning of Christ's Nativity' Perbaps their loves, or else their sheep. Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. 7537 'On the Morning of Christ's Nativity' The helmed cherubim And s worried seraphim Are seen in glittering...

...below; Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly18 thoughts so busy keep. 9 When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, '9 Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took;...

...90 Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. QC When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger struck, 95 Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture...

...thought they then, That the mighty Pan0 Was kindly come to live with them below;0 90 Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.0 IX When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook,0...