All heaven shines forth in her sweet face's frame : These, back restore the timely summer's fire; Those, springing thoughts in winter hearts inspire, Inspiriting dead souls, and quickening warm desire. These two fair suns in heavenly spheres are placed, Her fairest self she dresses; there where lies All sweets, a glorious beauty to emparadise. His locks like raven's plumes, or shining jet, Fall down in curls along his ivory neck; Within their circlets hundred graces set, And with love-knots their comely hangings deck: His mighty shoulders, like that giant swain, All heaven and earth, and all in both sustain; Yet knows no weariness, nor feels oppressing pain. Her amber hair like to the sunny ray, With gold enamels fair the silver white; Her dainty neck, spread with that silver mould, In the own fair silver shines, and fairer borrow'd gold. His breast a rock of purest alabaster, Where loves self-sailing, shipwreck'd, often sitteth. Hers a twin-rock, unknown but to the shipmaster; Where better could her love than here have nested, Or he his thoughts than here more sweetly feasted? Then both their love and thoughts in each are ever rested. Run now, you shepherd swains; ah! run you thither, That every wood and hill resounds withal, Come, Hymen, Hymen, come, dress'd in thy golden pall. The sounding echo back the music flung, While heavenly spheres unto the voices play'd. But see! the day is ended with my song, And sporting bathes with that fair ocean maid: Stoop now thy wing, my muse, now stoop thee low: Hence mayst thou freely play, and rest thee now; While here I hang my pipe upon the willow bough. So up they rose, while all the shepherds' throng His locks in bay and honour'd palm-tree bound, And lord of all the year and their May sportings crown'd. END OF VOL. I. BALLANTYNE AND COMPANY, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH. |