When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall climb, Attired with stars, we shall for ever sit, VI. UPON THE CIRCUMCISION. YE flaming Pow'rs, and winged Warriors bright, 5 Seas wept from our deep sorrow: He who with all Heav'n's heraldry whilere 10 Enter'd the world, now bleeds to give us ease; Sore doth begin His infancy to seize ! O more exceeding love, or law more just? 15 20 And that great covenant which we still transgress Entirely satisfied, And the full wrath beside Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess, And seals obedience first with wounding smart 25 This day, but O ere long Huge pangs and strong Will pierce more near his heart. Philip. ii. 7. In our translation, He made himself of no reputation; but Milton's expression, Emptied his glory, is nearer the original. VII. 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 With those just spirits that wear victorious palms, Singing everlastingly; That we on earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise; As once we did, till disproportion'd Sin 5 10 15 Jarr'd against Nature's chime, and with harsh din 20 Broke the fair music that all creatures made To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd In perfect diapason, whilst they stood, 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 To his celestial consort us unite, 25 To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light. VIII. AN EPITAPH. ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. THIS rich marble doth inter The honour'd wife of Winchester 6. Concent; from the Italian concento, harmony. 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 10 Yet had the number of her days Been as complete as was her praise, Nature and Fate had had no strife And now with second hope she goes, 25 And calls Lucina to her throes; And with remorseless cruelty Spoil'd at once both fruit and tree: 96. Lucina, the goddess said by the ancients to be present at births.-Atropos, one of the fates. 30 35 40 And those pearls of dew she wears, On her hast'ning funeral. Gentle Lady, may thy grave 45 After this thy travail sore That thy noble house doth bring, And some flowers, and some bays, For thy hearse, to strow the ways, Sent thee from the banks of Came, Devoted to thy virtuous name; 60 Whilst thou, bright Saint, high sitst in g.ory, Next her much like to thee in story, That fair Syrian shepherdess Who, after years of barrenness, The highly-favour'd Joseph bore 65 To him that served for her before, And at her next birth, much like thee, Through pangs fled to felicity, Far within the bosom bright Of blazing Majesty and Light: 70 There with thee, new welcome Saint, IX. SONG. ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Mirth and youth and warm desire; 63. Syrian shepherdess, Rachel. See Gen. xxix. 9. 5 Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. X. ON SHAKSPEARE. 1630. 10 WHAT needs my Shakspeare for his honour'd bones The labour of an age in piled stones, Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid Under a starry-pointing pyramid? Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame, What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name? Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thyself a live-long monument. For whilst to th' shame of slow-endeavouring Art 10 Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart XI ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER. 15 Who sickened in the time of his vacancy, being forbid to go to London by reason of the plague. HERE lies old Hobson;* Death hath broke his girt, Hobson is reckoned among the most celebrated Cambridge characters. He was the first who set up an establishment for hack horses, and his resolution in obliging whoever came to hire to take the one which stood next him, gave birth to the wellknown saying of Hobson's choice, this or none. He made a considerable fortune, and there is a picture of him at Cambridge, for which a very considerable sum has been repeatedly offered and refused. When I was there, it was in the Norwich waggonoffice, to the walls of which I was told it belonged by an inalienable right. |