21 Who did the solid earth ordain To rise above the watery plain ; For his, etc.

25 Who, by his all-commanding might, Did fill the new-made world with light; For his, etc.

And caused the golden-tressèd sun 30 All the day long his course to run; For his, etc.

35

The horned moon to shine by night,
Amongst her spangled sisters bright;
For his, etc.

He, with his thunder-clasping hand,
Smote the first-born of Egypt land;
For his, etc.

41 And in despite of Pharaoh fell

He brought from thence his Israël;
For his, etc.

45 The ruddy waves he cleft in twain
Of the Erythræan main ;

For his, etc.

The floods stood still like walls of glass, 50 While the Hebrew bands did pass ;

For his, etc.

55

But full soon they did devour
The tawny king with all his power;
For his, etc,

His chosen people he did bless
In the wasteful wilderness;
For his, etc.

61 In bloody battle he brought down Kings of prowess and renown; For his, etc.

65 He foiled bold Seon and his host, That ruled the Amorrean coast; For his, etc.

And large-limbed Og he did subdue, o With all his over-hardy crew;

75

For his, etc.

And to his servant Israël

He gave their land therein to dwell;

For his, etc.

He hath with a piteous eye
Beheld us in our misery;

For his, etc.

Sr And freed us from the slavery

Of the invading enemy;

For his, etc.

85 All living creatures he doth feed,

And with full hand supplies their need;
For his, etc.

Let us therefore warble forth

90 His mighty majesty and worth;
For his, etc.

That his mansion hath on high
Above the reach of mortal eye;

95

For his mercies aye endure,

Ever faithful, ever sure.

ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, DYING

O

OF A COUGH.

ANNO ÆTATIS XVII. (1626.)

I.

FAIREST flower, no sooner blown but blasted,

Soft silken primrose fading timelessly,

Summer's chief honour, if thou hadst outlasted Bleak Winter's force that made thy blossom dry; 5 For he, being amorous on that lovely dye

That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, But killed, alas! and then bewailed his fatal b

II.

For since grim Aquilo, his charioteer,
By boisterous rape the Athenian damsel got,
10 He thought it touched his deity full near,
If likewise he some fair one wedded not;
Thereby to wipe away the infamous blot
Of long-uncoupled bed and childless eld,

Which 'mongst the wanton gods a foul reproach was
held.

III.

15 So mounting up in icy-pearlèd car,

20

Through middle empire of the freezing air
He wandered long, till thee he spied from far;
There ended was his quest, there ceased his care.
Down he descended from his snow-soft chair,

But all unwares, with his cold-kind embrace,
Unhoused thy virgin soul from her fair biding-place.

IV.

Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; For so Apollo, with unweeting hand, Whilom did slay his dearly-loved mate, 25 Young Hyacinth born on Eurotas' strand, Young Hyacinth the pride of Spartan land; But then transformed him to a purple flower ; k! that so to change thee Winter had no power!

V.

Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, 30 Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed,

Hid from the world in a low-delvèd tomb; Could Heaven for pity thee so strictly doom? Oh no! for something in thy face did shine 35 Above mortality, that showed thou wast divine.

VI.

Resolve me then, O Soul most surely blest, (If so it be that thou these plaints dost hear) Tell me, bright Spirit, where'er thou hoverest, Whether above that high first-moving sphere, 40 Or in the Elysian fields (if such there were),

Oh say me true if thou wert mortal wight, And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy flight.

VII.

Wert thou some star, which from the ruined roof
Of shaked Olympus by mischance didst fall;
45 Which careful Jove in nature's true behoof
Took up, and in fit place did reinstall?
Or did of late earth's sons besiege the wall

Of sheeny Heaven, and thou some goddes
Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar-