The hooked Chariot stood, Unftain'd with hoftile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings fat flill with awful eye, As if they furely knew their sovran Lord was by. 60 V. But peaceful was the night, Wherein the Prince of light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds with wonder whift Smoothly the waters kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed VI. The stars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in fledfaft gaze, (wave. 70 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, 75 Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And And hid his head for fhame, As his inferior flame 80 The new enlighten'd world no more fhould need; He saw a greater fun appear Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could VIII. The fhepherds on the lawn, (bear. 85 Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they then, That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below; 90 Perhaps their lovers, or else their sheep, Was all that did their filly thoughts fo bufy keep. Now was almost won To think her part was done, 105 And that her reign had here its last fulfilling; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all Heav'n and Earth in happier union. XI. At laft furrounds their fight A globe of circular light, ΠΟ That with long beams the fhame-fac'd night array'd; The helmed Cherubim, And fworded Seraphim, Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and folemn quire, 115 With unexpreffive notes to Heav'n's new-born Heir. XII. Such mufic (as 'tis faid) Before was never made, But when of old the fons of morning fung, While the Creator great His conftellations fet, 120 And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And caft the dark foundations deep, And bid the weltring waves their oozy channel keep. XIII. Ring out ye crystal Spheres, Once bless our human ears, (If ye have pow'r to touch our fenfes fo) Ꮓ 125 And And let your filver chime Move in melodious time, And let the base of Heav'n's deep organ blow, 130 And with your ninefold hårmony Make up full confort to th' angelic fymphony. For if fuch holy fong XIV. Inwrap our fancy long, Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold, 135 And speckled Vanity Will ficken foon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mold, And Hell itself will pass away, And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. XV. Yea Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, 141 Orb'd in a rainbow; and like glories wearing Mercy will fit between, Thron'd in celestial sheen, 145 With radiant feet the tiffued clouds down steering, And Heav'n, as at some festival, Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall. That on the bitter cross Muft redeem our lofs; So both himself and us to glorify: Yet first to those ychain'd in sleep, 155 The wakeful trump of doom muft thunder through XVII. With fuch a horrid clang (the deep, As on mount Sinai rang, While the red fire, and smouldring clouds out brake: The aged earth aghaft, With terror of that blast, Shall from the furface to the center shake; When at the world's last feffion, 160 (throne. The dreadful Judge in middle air fhall spread his XVIII. And then at laft our bliss Full and perfect is, But now begins; for from this happy day 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 scaly horror of his folded tail. The oracles are dumb, XIX. No voice or hideous hum 170 Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving. Z 2 Apollo |