Of Hesperus, and his daughters three Revels the spruce and jocund Spring, There eternal Summer dwells, About the cedarn alleys fling Nard and cassia's balmy smells. Iris there with humid bow Waters the odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hue Than her purfled scarf can show, 985 990 995 And drenches with Elysian dew (List mortals, if your ears be true) But far above in spangled sheen 1000 988 There] Milton's own edition, 1673, reads 'That there,' but in the errata directs 'That' to be omitted; so it is by Tickell and Fenton, but silently readopted by Newton. Warton. 989 musky] See Cowley's Silva. p, 56, and Love's Riddle, p. 93. The musky kisses of the west wind.' 1002 Assyrian] Tickel and Fenton read 'the Cyprian Queen.' Holds his dear Psyche sweet intranc'd, Youth and Joy; so Jove hath sworn. But now my task is smoothly done, I can fly, or I can run Quickly to the green earth's end, 1005 1010 Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend, 1015 And from thence can soar as soon To the corners of the moon. Mortals, that would follow me, Love Virtue, she alone is free, She can teach ye how to climb Higher than the sphery chime: Or, if Virtue feeble were, Heav'n itself would stoop to her. 1020 1017 corners] Macbeth, a. 3. s. 5. Upon the corner of the moon.' Warton. 1021 sphery] 'sphery chime' is the chime or music of the spheres. Mids. N. Dream, act ii. sc. 7, Hermia's sphery eyne.' Machin's Dumbe Knight, (Reed's Old Pl. iv. 447), 'It was as silver as the chime of spheres.' Herrick's Hesp. p. 116, Fall down from those thy chiming spheres.' Warton and Todd. 1023 stoop] bow.' MS. LYCIDAS. In this Monody, the author bewails a learned friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage from Chester on the Irish seas, 1637; and by occasion foretells the ruin of our corrupted clergy, then in their height. YET once more, O ye laurels, and once more I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude, Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. 5 For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, 2 myrtles brown] Hor. Od. i. 25. 17. • Pulla magis atque myrto.' Warton. dead] 'Phillisides is dead.' Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. v. 8 (Todd's Spenser, viii. 76), and v. 71. 'Sweet bowres of myrtel twigs, and lawrel faire.' 10 Who] Neget quis carmina Gallo.' Virg. Ecl. x. 3. Peck. 12 watery] See Theod. Prodrom. Dos. et Rhod. Am. p. 254, ed. Gaulm. Unwept, and welter to the parching wind, Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well, With lucky words favour my destin'd urn, And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud. 15 20 For we were nurs'd upon the self-same hill, ་ 14 melodious] Cleveland's Obsequy on Mr. King, 'I like not tears in tune.' 17 sweep] Purg. i. 9. Todd. E qui Calliopea alquanto surga,' Dante 19 Muse] Gentle Muse-he passes." See Jortin's Tracts, i. p. 341. 23 nurs'd] Compare Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. ver. 85. 'Through many a hill and dale, &c.' 26 opening] Middleton's Game at Chess. Like a pearl, Dropp'd from the opening eyelids of the morn.' And Crashaw's Translation of Marino, The lids of day.' 20 Batt'ning] Drayton's Ecl. ix. Warton, Todd. "Their battening flocks on grassie leas to hold.' Warton. 30 Oft till the star that rose, at evening, bright, Toward heav'n's descent had slop'd his west'ring Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute, [wheel. Temper'd to th' oaten flute, Rough Satyrs danc'd, and Fauns with cloven heel From the glad sound would not be absent long, And old Damætus lov'd to hear our song. 36 But, O the heavy change, now thou art gone, The willows, and the hazel copses green, Fanning their joyous leaves to thy soft lays. 41 45 Or taint-worm to the weanling herds that graze, Such, Lycidas, thy loss to shepherds' ear. [deep 51 33 Temper'd] On this word see P. Fletcher's Purple Isl. c. ix. st. 3. Par. Lost, vii. 598. Warton. 37 thou art gone] Browne's Sheph. Pipe (ecl. 4). But he is gone. 50 Where] Spenser's Astrophel, st. 22, Ah, where were ye the while his shepheard peares, &c. Warton. |