And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes a universal peace through sea and land. IV. No war, or battle's sound Was heard the world around: The idle spear and shield were high up hung, The hooked chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sov'reign Lord was by. V. But peaceful was the night, Wherein the Prince of light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds with wonder whist Smoothly the waters kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, 65 64 whist] Nash's Dido, 1594. The ayre is cleere, and southerne windes are whist.' Todd. Golding's Ovid, p. 63. 'The waters whist.' Winds whist.' Aylet's Divine Poems, p. 65. If the winde be whist.' Marlowe's Hero and Leander, p. 13. far from the toure, when all is whist and still.' And see S. Hardinge's Com. Verses to W. Browne, from MS. in Beloe's Anecd. vi. 68. Who now hath quite forgot to rave, [wave. While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed VI. The stars with deep amaze Stand fix'd in steadfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, 70 75 Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for shame, Each sproutinge pauncie in the meade For griefe begins to hang a head. 80 The weepinge brooke in grovelling tones glide umblinge doun, Dimples its own sleeke cheeks, and thanks you with a frowne.' And Quarles's Divine Poems, p. 23. The winds were whist.' 77 This stanza copied from Spenser's April. I sawe Phoebus thrust out his golden hede Upon her to gaze : But when he saw how broade her beames did sprede, It did him amaze. Hee blush't to see another sunne belowe, Ne durst againe his fierie face outshowe.' &c. Warton. As his inferior flame The new enlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater sun appear [bear. Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could VIII. The shepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they then That the mighty Pan 85 Was kindly come to live with them below; 90 Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. IX. When such music sweet Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took : The air such pleasure loath to lose, 95 [close. With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly X. Nature that heard such sound, Beneath the hollow round 89 Pan] Spenser's July. The flockes of mightie Pan.' Warton. Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done, 105 And that her reign had here its last fulfilling; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all heav'n and earth in happier union. Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and solemn quire, [Heir. With unexpressive notes to Heaven's new-born XII. Such music (as 'tis said) Before was never made, But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set, 120 And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung, And cast the dark foundations deep, [keep. And bid the welt'ring waves their oozy channel 116 unexpressive] This word was, perhaps, coined by Shakespeare. As you like it, act iii. sc. 2, The fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she!' Warton. XIII. Ring out, ye crystal spheres, Once bless our human ears, If ye have pow'r to touch our senses so; And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, 125 And let the base of heav'n's deep organ blow; And with your ninefold harmony Make up full consort to th' angelic symphony. For if such holy song Inwrap our fancy long, XIV. 131 Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold, And speckled Vanity Will sicken soon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould; And Hell itself will pass away, And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 140 125 crystal] Heaven's hard crystal.' Marlowe's Hero and Leander, p. 90. 128 silver] Machin's Dumbe Knight, 1608. Todd. 'It was as silver as the chime of spheres.' 134 gold] 'See listening Time run back to fetch the age of gold.' Benlowes's Theophila, st. xcv. p. 248. 140 leave] Virg. Æn. viii. 245. regna recludat Pallida, dîs invisa; superque immane barathrum Warton. |