Page images
PDF
EPUB

The fpirit of Plato to unfold

What Worlds, or what vast Regions hold
The immortal mind that hath forfook
Her mansion in this fleshly nook:
And of thofe Dæmons that are found
In fire, air, flood, or under ground,
Whose power hath a true confent
With Planet, or with Element.
Som time let Gorgeous Tragedy
In Scepter'd Pall com fweeping by,
Presenting Thebs, or Pelops line,
Or the tale of Troy divine.

Or what (though rare) of later age,
Ennobled hath the Bufkind stage.
But, O fad Virgin, that thy power
Might raise Mufæus from his bower,
Or bid the foul of Orpheus fing
Such notes as warbled to the ftring,
Drew Iron tears down Pluto's cheek,

And made Hell grant what Love did seek.
Or call up him that left half told

The story of Cambuscan bold,
Of Camball, and of Algarfife,
And who had Canace to wife,

That own'd the vertuous Ring and Glafs,
And of the wondrous Hors of Brafs,
On which the Tartar King did ride;
And if ought els, great Bards beside,
In fage and folemn tunes have fung,
Of Turneys and of Trophies hung;
Of Forefts, and inchantments drear,
Where more is meant then meets the ear,

90

100

110

120

Thus night oft fee me in thy pale career,
Till civil-fuited Morn appeer,

Not trickt and frounc't as he was wont,
With the Attick Boy to hunt,

But Cherchef't in a comely Cloud,
While rocking Winds are Piping loud,
Or ufher'd with a shower still,
When the guft hath blown his fill,
Ending on the ruffling Leaves,
With minute drops from off the Eaves.
And when the Sun begins to fling
His flaring beams, me Goddess bring
To arched walks of twilight groves,
And shadows brown that Sylvan loves
Of Pine, or monumental Oake,
Where the rude Ax with heaved stroke,
Was never heard the Nymphs to daunt,
Or fright them from their hallow'd haunt.
There in close covert by fome Brook,
Where no prophaner eye may look,
Hide me from Day's garish eie,
While the Bee with Honied thie,
That at her flowry work doth sing,
And the Waters murmuring
With fuch confort as they keep,
Entice the dewy-feather'd Sleep;
And let som strange mysterious dream,
Wave at his Wings in Airy stream,
Of lively portrature display'd,

Softly on my eye-lids laid.

130

140

150

And as I wake, fweet mufick breath
Above, about, or underneath,

Sent by fom spirit to mortals good,
Or th'unfeen Genius of the Wood.
But let my due feet never fail,
To walk the ftudious Cloysters pale.
And love the high embowed Roof,
With antick Pillars maffy proof,
And storied Windows richly dight,
Cafting a dimm religious light.
There let the pealing Organ blow,
To the full voic'd Quire below,
In Service high, and Anthems cleer,
As may with sweetness, through mine ear,
Diffolve me into extafies,

And bring all Heav'n before mine eyes.
And may at last my weary age
Find out the peacefull hermitage,
The Hairy Gown and Moffy Cell,
Where I may fit and rightly spell
Of

every Star that Heav'n doth fhew,
And every Herb that fips the dew;
Till old experience do attain
To fomething like Prophetic ftrain.
These pleasures Melancholy give,
And I with thee will choose to live.

160

170

L'Allegro.

ENCE loathed Melancholy

Of Cerberus, and blackest midnight In Stygian Cave forlorn.

[born,

'Mongst horrid fhapes, and fhreiks, and fights

Find out fome uncouth cell,

[unholy,

Where brooding darkness spreads his jealous

And the night-Raven fings;

[wings, There under Ebon fhades, and low-brow'd Rocks,

As ragged as thy Locks,

In dark Cimmerian defert ever dwell.
But com thou Goddefs fair and free,
In Heav'n ycleap'd Euphrofyne,
And by men, heart-easing Mirth,
Whom lovely Venus at a birth
With two fifter Graces more
To Ivy-crowned Bacchus bore;
Or whether (as fom Sager fing)

The frolick Wind that breathes the Spring,
Zephir with Aurora playing,

As he met her once a Maying,

There on Beds of Violets blew,

And fresh-blown Roses washt in dew,
Fill'd her with thee a daughter fair,

So buckfom, blith, and debonair.

10

20

Haste thee nymph, and bring with thee
Jeft and youthful Jollity,

Quips and Cranks, and wanton Wiles,
Nods, and Becks, and Wreathed Smiles,
Such as hang on Hebe's cheek,

And love to live in dimple fleek;
Sport that wrincled Care derides,
And Laughter holding both his fides.
Com, and trip it as you go
On the light fantastick toe,

And in thy right hand lead with thee,
The Mountain Nymph, fweet Liberty;
And if I give thee honour due,
Mirth, admit me of thy crue

To live with her, and live with thee,
In unreproved pleasures free;
To hear the Lark begin his flight,
And finging startle the dull night,
From his watch-towre in the skies,
Till the dappled dawn doth rise;
Then to com in fpight of forrow,
And at my window bid good morrow,
Through the Sweet-Briar, or the Vine,
Or the twisted Eglantine.

While the Cock with lively din,

Scatters the rear of darknes thin,

And to the stack, or the Barn dore,
Stoutly ftruts his Dames before,

Oft lift'ning how the Hounds and Horn
Chearly roufe the slumbring morn,
From the fide of fom Hoar Hill,

Through the high wood echoing fhrill.

30

40

50

« PreviousContinue »