And seals obedience first, with wounding smart, Huge pangs and strong Will pierce more near his heart. 25 AT A SOLEMN MUSIC.* BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of heav'n's joy, With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee, Where the bright Seraphim in burning row Singing everlastingly: 5 10 15 * There are three copies of this ode, all in Milton's own hand writing. 6 concent] So the Cant. MS. not 'consent.' Ed. 1645, 'content;' 1673, 'concent.' Warton. 12 And Cherubim, sweet winged Squires.' So Cant. MS. Todd. That we on earth with undiscording voice Jarr'd against nature's chime, and with harsh din 19 To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd In perfect diapason, whilst they stood, In first obedience, and their state of good. O may we soon again renew that song, And keep in tune with Heav'n, till God ere long To his celestial consort us unite, 25 To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light! AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. THIS rich marble doth inter The honour'd wife of Winchester, A Viscount's daughter, an Earl's heir, Added to her noble birth, More than she could own from earth. 5 After so short time of breath, To house with darkness, and with death. 10 20 nature's chime] Jonson's Epithal. vol. vii. 2. VOL. II. To do their offices in nature's chime. Warton. 42 Yet had the number of her days Her high birth, and her graces sweet The God that sits at marriage feast; 15 To greet her of a lovely son, But whether by mischance or blame 19 He] See Ov. Metam. x. 4. 'Adfuit ille quidem: sed nec solennia verba, Nec letos vultus, nec felix attulit omen: Fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrymoso stridula fumo, Usque fuit, nullosque invenit motibus ignes.' Jortin. 33 womb] Browne's Brit. Past. b. ii. s. 1. ed. 1616. 'Where never plowshare ript his mother's wombe To give an aged seede a living tombe.' Todd. 25 30 So have I seen some tender slip, And some flowers, and some bays, For thy hearse, to strew the ways, Sent thee from the banks of Came, 47 Lady] Cymbeline, act iv. sc. 2. 'Quiet consummation have, And renowned be thy grave! Warton. 60 Whilst thou, bright Saint, high sitt'st in glory, Next her, much like to thee in story, That fair Syrian shepherdess, Who, after years of barrenness, The highly favour'd Joseph bore To him that serv'd for her before, And at her next birth much like thee 65 70 SONG. ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. 1 star] 'Of the bright morning star.' Hen. More's Poems, p. 322. 1 harbinger] Shakesp. Mids. N. Dream, act iii. sc. ult. 'And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger.' Warton. 2 dancing] Spenser's F. Q. i. v. 2. 'At last the golden oriental gate Of greatest heaven gan to open faire ; And Phœbus fresh as bridgroome to his mate, Came dancing forth, shaking his dewy hair.' Warton. |