How he before the thunderous throne doth lie, 39 45 To th' touch of golden wires, while Hebe brings 50 But fie, my wand'ring Muse, how thou dost stray! Thou know'st it must be now thy only bent 55 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. 87 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. Then quick about thy purpos'd business come, Then ENS is represented as father of the Predicaments his ten sons, whereof the eldest stood for Substance with his canons, which ENS, thus speaking, explains. 60 GOOD luck befriend thee, Son; for at thy birth [still Yet there is something that doth force my fear, For once it was my dismal hap to hear 70 A Sibyl old, bow-bent with crooked age 75 Yet on his brothers shall depend for clothing. And peace shall lull him in her flow'ry lap; To harbour those that are at enmity. 85 What pow'r, what force, what mighty spell, if not Your learned hands, can loose this Gordian knot? The next QUANTITY and QUALITY spake in prose; then RELATION was called by his name. RIVERS, arise; whether thou be the son Of utmost Tweed, or Oose, or gulphy Dun, 91 95 Or Trent, who like some earth-born giant spreads Or coaly Tine, or ancient hallow'd Dee, Or Humber loud that keeps the Scythian's name, Or Medway smooth, or royal tower'd Thame. 100 [The rest was prose.] 94 indented] Sylvester's Du Bartas, D. iii. W. 1. Our silver Medway which doth deepe indent The flowerie meadowes of my native Kent.' 98 hallow'd] 'holy Dee.' Randolph's Poems, p. 48, ed. 1640. Warton. Todd. ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY. I. THIS is the month, and this the happy morn, That he our deadly forfeit should release, II. That glorious form, that light unsufferable, To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid aside; and here with us to be, Forsook the courts of everlasting day, 11 And chose with us a darksome house of mortal clay. III. Say, heav'nly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Hast thou no verse, no hymn, or solemn strain, 15 Now while the heav'n by the sun's team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, 20 And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? IV. See how from far upon the eastern road The star-led wizards haste with odours sweet O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, 25 And join thy voice unto the Angel quire, From out his secret altar touch'd with hallow'd fire. 19 sun's team] Henry IV. P. I. act iii. sc. 4. 'heavenly-harness'd team.' Todd. 28 star-led] 'The starre-led sages that would Christ behold.' Bancroft's Sec. B. of Epigrams, Ep. 228. Todd. Storer's Life of Wolsey, p. 21. 'When wise magicians wandered far awide To find the place of our Messiah's birth.' 28 wizards] Spenser's F. Q. iv. xii. 2. 'antique wizards.' i. iv. 12. and strong advizement of six wizards old.' Warton. 'The Syracusan wizard did invent.' Storer's Life of Wolsey, p. 12. And Fitz Geffrey's Holy Raptures, p. 37. 17. |