And early, ere the odorous breath of morn With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless; That sit upon the nine infolded spheres, And sing to those that hold the vital shears, 65 On which the fate of Gods and men is wound. Such sweet compulsion doth in music lie, And keep unsteady Nature to her law, And the low world in measur'd motion draw After the heavenly tune, which none can hear If my 73 gross] Compare Shakesp. Merchant of Venice, act v. sc. 1. Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.' Shakesp. Mid. N. D. act iii. sc. 1. 'And I will purge thy mortal grossness so,' &c. Warton. Inimitable sounds: yet as we go, SONG II. O'ER the smooth enamell'd green, And touch the warbled string, Of branching elm star-proof. Follow me, I will bring you where she sits, Her deity. Such a rural Queen All Arcadia hath not seen. SONG III. NYMPHS and shepherds dance no more 89 star] 'Sun-proof arbours.' Sylvester's Du Bartas, 171, and G. Peele's David and Bethsabe, 1599. This shade, sun-proof, is yet no proof for thee.' Warton and Todd. 97 By sandy Ladon's lilied banks] Giles Fletcher's Christ's Victorie and Triumph, 1632. To Ladon sands,' p. 14. and On either side bank't with a lily wall,' p. 49. A. Dyce. 97 sandy] Browne's Brit. Past. ii. st. iv. p. 107. On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar Trip no more in twilight ranks; Though Erymanth your loss deplore, A better soil shall give ye thanks. Bring your flocks, and live with us, To serve the Lady of this place. Though Syrinx your Pan's mistress were, Such a rural Queen All Arcadia hath not seen. 100 105 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ANNO ÆTATIS 17. ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, DYING OF A COUGH. I. O FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted, That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal bliss. 5 II. For since grim Aquilo his charioteer By boisterous rape th' Athenian damsel got, 10] Shakespeare's Passionate Pilgrim. 'Swet Rose, fair flower, untimely pluckt, soon vaded, Fair Creature, kild too soone by Death's sharpe sting.' 6 kiss] Shakesp. Venus and Adonis, Todd. 'He thought to kiss him, and hath kill'd him so.' Newton. 10 If likewise he some fair one wedded not, Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was held. III. So mounting up in icy-pearled car, 15 Through middle empire of the freezing air IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; 20 25 But then transform'd him to a purple flower: Alack, that so to change thee Winter had no power! V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, 12 infamous] The common accentuation of our elder poetry. Drummond's Urania, 1616, 'On this infamous stage of woe to die.' Todd. |