That glorious form, that light unfufferable, He laid afide; and here with us to be, And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. III. Say heav'nly Mufe, fhall not thy facred vein Haft thou no verse, no hymn, or folemn strain, 15 20 Now while the Heav'n by the fun's team untrod, bright? IV. See how from far upon the eastern road The ftar-led wifards hafte with odors sweet; fixth elegy to Charles Deodati: is not only great learning shown in it, but likewife a fine vein of and it was probably made as an 28. Frem O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, ་ Have thou the honor firft, thy Lord to greet, And join thy voice unto the Angel quire, From out his fecret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. The HYM N. I I. T was the winter wild, While the Heav'n-born child All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies; Nature in awe to him Had dofft her gawdy trim, With her great Mafter fo to fympathize: It was no feason then for her To wanton with the fun her lufty paramour. 25 30 35 II. Only with speeches fair 28. From out his fecret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire.] Alluding to Isaiah VI. 6, 7. Then flew one of the Seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. And he laid it upon my mouth, and Said, La, this bath touched thy lips, Το and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy fin purged. In his Reason of Church Government our author has another beautiful allufion to the fame paffage, which we quoted in a note upon the Paradife Loft I. 17. that eternal Spirit "who can enrich with all utter$6 ance To hide her guilty front with innocent fnow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with finful blame, The faintly veil of maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look fo near upon her foul deformities. But he her fears to cease, III. Sent down the meek-ey'd Peace; 40 45 She crown'd with olive green, came foftly fliding Down through the turning sphere His ready harbinger, With turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, 50 And waving wide her myrtle wand, She strikes an univerfal peace through sea and land. IV. No war, or battel's found Was heard the world around: "ance and knowledge, and fends "out his Seraphim, with the hallow'd fire of his altar, to touch and purify the lips of whom he pleafes." As Mr. Pope's Mef The -O thou my voice inspire, Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire. 52. She frikes an univerfal peace] fiah is formed upon paffages taken The expreffion is a little inaccurate, from the prophet Ifaiah, he very Peace to ftrike a peace: but otherproperly invocates the fame divine wife it is claffical, fœdus ferire. Spirit. C 2 64. The The idle spear and shield were high up hung, 55 The hooked chariot stood, I Unftain'd with hostile blood, 2 The trumpet fpake not to the armed throng, And kings fat ftill with awful eye, As if they surely knew their fovran Lord was by. 60 V. But peaceful was the night, Wherein the Prince of light His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds with wonder whift Smoothly the waters kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm fit brooding on the charmed wave. 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, Until their Lord himself befpake, and bid them go. VII. And though the fhady gloom Had given day her room, The fun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for fhame, As his inferior flame 75 The new inlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater fun appear 80 Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear. VIII, The shepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat fimply chatting in a ruftic row; A hence, I fuppofe, the game of Whift hath its name, as it requires filence and attention. 85. Or e'er the point of dawn,] Ere with e'er or ever following is 85 Full |