Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed, VI. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, 40 Oh say me true, if thou wert mortal wight, [flight. And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy VII. Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof 45 Of sheeny Heav'n, and thou some Goddess fled Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? VIII. Or wert thou that just Maid, who once before 50 Forsook the hated earth, O tell me sooth, 31 wormy] Shakesp. Mid. N. Dr. act iii. sc. ult. Already to their wormy beds are gone.' Warton. 40 were] He should have said 'are,' if the rhyme had permitted. Hurd. And eam'st again to visit us once more? Or that crown'd matron sage white-robed Truth? Or any other of that heavenly brood [good? Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some IX. 60 Or wert thou of the golden-winged host, X. 65 But oh, why didst thou not stay here below To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart? But thou canst best perform that office where thou art. XI. 70 Then thou, the Mother of so sweet a Child, 53 Or wert] In this line a dissyllable word is wanting. Mr. J. Heskin conjectured Or wert thou Mercy,' &c. And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild; 75 ANNO ÆTATIS 19. At a VACATION EXERCISE in the COLLEGE, part Latin, part English. The Latin speeches ended, the English thus began. HAIL, native Language, that by sinews weak 5 5 dumb silence] Nonni Dionys. xv. 10. ȧpwvýτw OIWTY. Chapman's Homer's Il. p. 98, Dumb silence seiz'd them all.' Daniel's Poems, ii. 236. Wishart's Immanuel, p. 66. Syl. vester's Du Bartas, p. 5. Cotton's Poems, p. 239. per muta silentia silvæ.' England's Helicon, p. 259. C. Small loss it is that thence can come unto thee, The daintiest dishes shall be serv'd up last. I 15 25 pray For this same small neglect that I have made: But haste thee straight to do me once a pleasure, And from thy wardrobe bring thy chiefest treasure, Not those new fangled toys, and trimming slight Which takes our late fantastics with delight, 20 But cull those richest robes, and gay'st attire Which deepest spirits, and choicest wits desire: I have some naked thoughts that rove about, And loudly knock to have their passage out; And weary of their place do only stay Till thou hast deck'd them in thy best array; That so they may without suspect or fears Fly swiftly to this fair assembly's ears; Yet I had rather, if I were to choose, Thy service in some graver subject use, Such as may make thee search thy coffers round, Before thou clothe my fancy in fit sound: Such where the deep transported mind may soar Above the wheeling poles, and at Heav'n's door Look in, and see each blissful Deity 30 35 30 graver] An anticipation of the subject of Par. Lost, if we substitute Christian for Pagan ideas. Warton. How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, List'ning to what unshorn Apollo sings 39 To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings In willing chains and sweet captivity. 45 50 But fie, my wand'ring Muse, how thou dost stray! Expectance calls thee now another way, Thou know'st it must be now thy only bent 55 To keep in compass of thy predicament: 36 thunderous] Jortin proposed thunderer's throne;' but see P. L. x. 702, thunderous clouds ;' and Sylvester's Du Bartas, p. 420. Rushing with thundrous roar.' Warton and Todd. 37 unshorn] Hor. Od. i. xxi. 2. Intonsum, pueri, dicite Cynthium.' And Pind. Pyth. Od. iii. 26. Newton. 40 watchful] Vigiles flammas.' Ov. Art. Am. iii. 463. 'Vigil flamma.' Trist. iii. v. 4. Warton. 52 sweet] Tasso, Gier. Lib. c. vi. st. 84. Giogo di servitu dolce e leggiero.' Du Bartas, p. 997. 'The willing chains of my captivitie. Warton and Todd. |