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 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 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. After so short time of breath, To house with darkness, and with death. 20 nature's chime] Jonson's Epithal. vol. vii. 2. 6 To do their offices in nature's chime.' Warton. 10 5 ། Yet had the number of her days Her high birth, and her graces sweet The virgin quire for her request The God that sits at marriage feast 15 15 But with a scarce well-lighted flame; 20 And in his garland as he stood, Ye might discern a cyprus bud. Once had the early matrons run To greet her of a lovely son, But whether by mischance or blame And with remorseless cruelty Spoil'd at once both fruit and tree: 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, Wept for thee in Helicon, 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, Who, after years of barrenness, 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.' 2 dancing] Spenser's F. Q. i. v. 2. 'At last the golden oriental gate Of greatest heaven gan to open faire; Warton. And Phoebus fresh as bridgroome to his mate, Came dancing forth, shaking his dewy hair.' Warton. |