Or that ftarred Ethiop-queen,that ftrove
To fet her beauties' praise above
The Sea-Nymphs, and their pow'rs offended:
Yet thou art higher far defcended,
Thee bright-hair'd Vefta long of yore
His daughter the (in Saturn's reign,
Such mixture was not held a ftain.) Oft in glimmering bow'rs and glades He met her, and in fecret shades Of woody Ida's inmost grove,
And looks commercing with the skies, Thy rapt foul fitting in thine eyes: There held in holy paffion ftill,
Forget thyself to marble, till
With a fad leaden downward caft
Thou fix them on the earth as fast:
And join with thee calm Peace, and Quiet, Spare Faft, that oft with Gods doth diet, And hears the Muses in a ring
Ay round about Jove's altar fing: And add to these retired Leisure, That in trim gardens takes his pleasure; But firft and chiefeft with thee bring Him,that yon foars on golden wing,
Guiding the fiery-wheeled throne,
The Cherub-Contemplation;
And the mute filence hift along, 'Lefs Philomel will deign a fong In her sweetest faddeft plight,
Smoothing the rugged brow of night, While Cynthia checks her dragon-yoke, Gently o'er th' accuftom'd oak;
Sweet bird, that shunn'ft the noise of folly, Moft mufical, moft melancholy!
Thee,chauntrefs, oft the woods among I-woo to hear thy.even-fong; And miffing thee, I walk unfeen On the dry smooth-shaven green, To behold the wand'ring moon, Riding near her highest noon, Like one, that had been led astray Through the Heav'n's wide pathless way, And oft, as if her head fhe bow'd, Stooping through a fleecy cloud. Oft on a plat of rifing ground, I hear the far-off-Curfeu found, Over fome wide-water'd shore, Swinging flow with fullen roar; Or, if the air will not permit,
Some ftill-removed place will fit,
Where glowing embers through the room Teach light to counterfeit a gloom,
Far from all refort of mirth, Save the cricket on the hearth,
Or the belman's droufy charm,
To bless the doors from nightly harm: Or let my lamp at midnight-hour Be feen in fome high lonely tow'r,
Where I may oft out-watch the Bear, With thrice-great Hermes, or unfphere The fpirit of Plato to unfold
What Worlds, or what vaft regions hold The immortal mind, that hath forfook Her mansion in this fleshly nook: And of thofe Demons, that are found In fire, air, flood, or under ground, Whofe power hath a true confent With planet, or with element. Sometime let gorgeous tragedy In fcepter'd pall come fweeping by, Prefenting Thebes, or Pelops line, Or the Tale of Troy divine, Or what (though rare) of later age Ennobled hath thy bufkin'd ftage. But, O fad Virgin, that thy power Might raise Mufæus from his bower, . Or bid the foul of Orpheus fing Such notes, as warbled to the string. Drew iron tears down Pluto's cheek, And made Hell grant what love did feek. Or call up him, that left half told
The story of Cambufcan bold, Of Camball, and of Algarfife, And who had Canace to wife,
That own'd the virtuous ring and glass, And of the wondrous horfe of brass, On which the Tartar-king did ride; And if ought elfe great bards befide In fage and folemn tunes have fung, Of turneys and of trophies hung, Of forests, and inchantments drear, Where more is meant than meets the ear,
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