Jarr'd against nature's chime, and with harsh din In first obedience, and their state of good. 25 And keep in tune with Heav'n, till God ere long To his celestial consort us unite, To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light. AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF THIS rich marble doth inter The honour'd wife of Winchester, A Viscount's daughter, an Earl's heir, Added to her noble birth, More than she could own from earth. After so short time of breath, To house with darkness, and with death. In giving limit to her life. 20 nature's chime] Jonson's Epithal. vol. vii. 2. " To do their offices in nature's chime. Warton. 10 Her high birth, and her graces sweet The virgin quire for her request But with a scarce well-lighted flame; Ye might discern a cyprus bud. And now with second hope she goes, 19 He] See Ov. Metam. x. 4. • Adfuit ille quidem: sed nec solennia verba, 15 20 Fax quoque, quam tenuit, lacrymoso stridula fumo, Usque fuit, nullosque invenit motibus ignes.' Jortin. 33 womb] Browne's Brit. Past. b. ii. s. 1. ed. 1616. 'Where never plowshare ript his mother's wombe To give an aged seede a living tombe.' Todd. Pluck'd up by some unheedy swain, After this thy travail sore That thy noble house doth bring, And some flowers, and some bays, Sent thee from the banks of Came, Devoted to thy virtuous name; Whilst thou, bright Saint, high sitt'st in glory, Next her, much like to thee in story, That fair Syrian shepherdess, Who after years of barrenness, 60 The highly favour'd Joseph bore To him that serv'd for her before, And at her next birth much like thee 65 70 SONG. ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, star] Of the bright morning star.' Hen. More's Poems, P. 322. 1 harbinger] Shakesp. Mids, N. Dream, act iii. sc. ult. 'And yonder shines Aurora's harbinger.' Warton. dancing] Spenser's F. Q. i. v. 2. 2 At last the golden oriental gate Of greatest heaven gan to open faire; And Phoebus fresh as bridgroome to his mate, Warton. 5 Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. 10 AN EPITAPH ON THE ADMIRABLE DRAMATIC POET W. SHAKESPEARE.* WHAT needs my Shakespeare for his honour'd bones, The labour of an age in piled stones? Or that his hallow'd reliques should be hid Dear son of memory, great heir of fame, What need'st thou such weak witness of thy name? Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thyself a live-long monument. For whilst to th' shame of slow-endeavouring art Thy easy numbers flow, and that each heart Hath from the leaves of thy unvalued book 10 welcome] Chaucer's Knight's Tale, ver. 1511. Todd. 10 * These lines were prefixed to the folio ed. of Shakespeare's Plays in 1632, but without Milton's name or initials. It is, therefore, the first of his pieces that was published. Warton. 11 unvalued] Invaluable. Rich. III. act i. sc. 4. • Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,' Todd. |