Her high birth, and her graces sweet The virgin quire for her request But with a scarce well-lighted flame; But whether by mischance or blame 19 He] See Ov. Metam. x. 4. 'Adfuit ille quidem: sed nec solennia verba, Fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrymoso stridula fumo, 88 womb] Browne's Brit. Past. b. ii. s. 1. ed. 1616. Todd. 15 20 30 35 Pluck'd up by some unheedy swain, And those pearls of dew she wears Which the sad morn had let fall That thy noble house doth bring, And some flowers, and some bays, Sent thee from the banks of Came, Devoted to thy virtuous name; Whilst thou, bright Saint, high sitt'st in glory, Next her, much like to thee in story, That fair Syrian shepherdess, Who, after years of barrenness, 47 Lady] Cymbeline, act iv. sc. 2. 'Quiet consummation have, And renowned be thy grave!' Warton The highly favour'd Joseph bore To him that serv'd for her before, And at her next birth much like thee There with thee, new welcome Saint, 65 70 SONG. ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, 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.' dancing] Spenser's F. Q. i. v. 2. 'At last the golden orientall gate Of greatest heaven gan to open fayre; Warton. And Phoebus, fresh as brydegrome to his mate, Warton 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. 10 AN EPITAPH ON THE ADMIRABLE DRAMATIC POET W. SHAKESPEARE.* (1630). WHAT needs my Shakespear for his honour'd bones, The labour of an age in piled stones? Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid Dear son of memory, great heir of fame, 5 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 Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart 10 welcome] Chaucer's Knight's Tale, ver. 1511. 10 * These lines were prefixed to the folio ed. of Shakespeare's Plays in 1682, but without Milton's name or initials. It is, therefore, the first of his pieces that was published. Warton. 11 unvalued] Invaluable. Rich. III. act i. sc. 4. 'Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels.' Todd. Those Delphic lines with deep impression took, 15 ON THE UNIVERSITY CARRIER, 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, 15 sepúlcher'd] So accented in Shakesp. Rape of Lucrece. 'May likewise be sepúlcher'd in thy shade.' Malone. 1 Hobson] Seven Champions of Christendom, p. 50. 'Is Hobson there, or Dawson, or Tom Long?' Ellis Lett. on Engl. History, 1st. Ser. iii. 207. Our Hobson and the rest should have been forbidden.' Taylor's (W. Poet.) Works, fol. part ii. p. 188. 'Oh! quoth hee, I could have gone thither with my neighbour Hobson on foot, like a foole as I was, and I might have rid backe upon my neighbour Jobson's mare, like an asse as I am.' |