And early, ere the odorous breath of morn Awakes the slumb'ring leaves, or tassel'd horn Shakes the high thicket, haste I all about, Number my ranks, and visit every sprout With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless; That sit upon the nine infolded spheres, And keep unsteady Nature to her law, 65 70 75 73 gross] Compare Shakesp. Merchant of Venice, act v. sc. 1. 'There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.' Shakesp. Mid. N. D. act iii. sc. 1. And I will purge thy mortal grossness so, &c. Warton. Whose lustre leads us, and for her most fit, Whate'er the skill of lesser Gods can show, 80 SONG II. O'ER the smooth enamell'd green, And touch the warbled string, Under the shady roof Of branching elm star-proof. Follow me, I will bring you where she sits, Clad in splendour as befits Her deity. Such a rural Queen All Arcadia hath not seen. 85 90 95 SONG III. NYMPHS and Shepherds dance no more 89 star] Sun-proof arbours.' Sylvester's Du Bartas, 171, and G. Peele's David and Bethsabe, 1599. • This shade, sun-proof, is yet no proof for thee.' Warton and Todd. By sandy Ladon's lilied banks; On old Lycæus or Cyllene hoar Trip no more in twilight ranks; Though Erymanth your loss deplore, A better soil shall give ye thanks. Bring your flocks, and live with us, Though Syrinx your Pan's mistress were, Such a rural Queen All Arcadia hath not seen. 100 105 97 By sandy Ladon's lilied banks] Giles Fletcher's Christ's Victorie and Triumph, 1632. 'To Ladon sands,' p. 14. and On either side bank't with a lily wall,' p. 49. A. Dyce. 97 sandy] Browne's Brit. Past. ii. st. iv. p. 107. 'The silver Ladon on his sandy shore. MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. ANNO ÆTATIS 17. ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, DYING OF A COUGH. I. O FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted, Soft silken primrose fading timelessly, Summer's chief honour, if thou hadst out-lasted Bleak Winter's force that made thy blossom dry; For he being amorous on that lovely dye 3 That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But kill'd, alas, and then bewail'd his fatal bliss. II. For since grim Aquilo his charioteer By boisterous rape th' Athenian damsel got, He thought it touch'd his deity full near, O] Shakespeare's Passionate Pilgrim. Fair Creature, kild too soone by Death's sharpe sting.' 6 kiss] Shakesp. Venus and Adonis, 'He thought to kiss him, and hath kill'd him so.' Todd. Newton. 10 If likewise he some fair one wedded not, Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was held. Through middle empire of the freezing air But all unwares with his cold-kind embrace 20 Unhous'd thy virgin soul from her fair biding place. IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; 25 But then transform'd him to a purple flower: Alack, that so to change thee Winter had no power! V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, 12 infamous] The common accentuation of our elder poetry. Drummond's Urania, 1616, 'On this infamous stage of woe to die.' Todd. |