Pours out deserved thanks in grateful praise : The fair Eclecta, who with widow'd brow This shining robe her Lord himself had wrought, While he her love with hundred presents sought, And it with many a wound, and many a torment bought ! LXX. And thus array'd, her heav'nly beauties shin'd grace: Which with a Crystal mix'd, much mends his LXXI. Ah! who that flame can tell? Ah! who can see? While bolder joy, and humble majesty In either cheek had kindled graceful fire : At length when joys had left her closer heart, Then forth i' th' music of her voice they throng; *Rev. xix. 8. Bb 'My hope, my love, my joy, my life, my bliss, What are the world's false joys, what Heav'ns true joys to this? LXXIII. Ah, dearest Lord! does my rapt soul behold thee? And thousand ne'er felt joys stream in each melting part." Thus with glad sorrow did she plain her, Upon his neck a welcome load depending ; Whose work in narrow words may not be pent: There sweet delights, which know nor end nor measure; Fulness of sweets excludes not more receiving: The soul still big with joy, yet still conceiving; [ing. Beyond slow tongue's report, beyond quick thought's perceivLXXVI. There are they gone; there will they ever bide ; Swimming in waves of joy, and heav'nly loves : He still a bridegroom, she a gladsome bride; Their hearts in love, like spheres still constant moving : No change, no grief, no age can them befall : Their bridal bed is in that heav'nly hall, Where all days are but one, and only one is all. LXXVII. And as in state they thus in triumph ride, The boys and damsels their just praises chant ; The boys the bridegroom sing, the maids the bride, While all the hills glad Hymens loudly vaunt: Heav'ns winged hosts, greeting this glorious spring, Attune their higher notes, and Hymens sing: J Each thought to pass, and each did pass thought's loftiest Upon His lightning brow Love proudly sitting There full of strength in Lordly arms he stands, No heart, no soul, his strength and Lordly pow'r withstands. Upon her forehead thousand cheerful Graces, There gentle Love his armed hand unbraces; There by his play a thousand souls beguiles, Upon her cheek doth Beauty's self implant Her eyes would swell, and burst, and melt in show'rs : Thrice fairer both than ever fairest ey'd : Heav'n never such a bridegroom yet descry'd; Nor ever Earth so fair, so undefil'd a bride. LXXXI. Full of his Father shines his glorious face, As far the Sun surpassing in his light, All Heav'n 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 quick'ning warm desire. LXXXIII. These two fair Suns in heav'nly spheres are plac'd, Thus in all high perfections fully grac'd, LXXXIV. His locks like raven's plumes, or shining jet, And with love-knots their comely hangings deck : His mighty shoulders, like that giant swain*, All heav'n and earth, and all in both sustain; Yet knows no weariness, nor feels oppressing pain. LXXXV. Her amber hair like to the sunny ray, With gold enamels fair the silver white; Her dainty neck, spread with that silver mould, In th' own fair silver shines, and borrow'd gold. His breast a rock of purest alabaster, Were loves self-sailing, shipwreck'd often sitteth. Her's a twin-rock, unknown, but to th' ship-master; Which harbours him alone, all other splitteth. Where better could her love than here have nested? Run now you shepherd-swains; ah! run you thither Come Hymen, Hymen come, drest in thy golden pall. The sounding echo back the music flung, While heav'nly spheres unto the voices play'd. But lo! the day is ended with my song, And sporting bathes with that fair ocean maid: * Atlas. 1 |