Married to immortal verse, Such as the meeting soul may pierce, The hidden soul of harmony; That Orpheus' self may heave his head Of heap'd Elysian flowers, and hear Such strains as would have won the ear His half regain'd Eurydice. These delights if thou canst give, Mirth, with thee I mean to live. 147 Elysian flowers] See Par. Lost, iii. ver. 359. 140 145 150 ARCADES. Part of an Entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby, at Harefield, by some noble persons of her family; who appear on the scene in pastoral habit, moving toward the seat of state, with this song. SONG I. Look, Nymphs and Shepherds, look, Is that which we from hence descry, This, this is she To whom our vows and wishes bend; Fame, that her high worth to raise, We may justly now accuse 5 This] Jonson's Ent. at Altrope, 1603. 'This is shee, This is shee, In whose world of grace,' &c. Warton. 5 10 Mark what radiant state she spreads, Sitting like a Goddess bright, In the centre of her light. Might she the wise Latona be, Or the tower'd Cybele, Mother of a hundred Gods? Who had thought this clime had held 15 20 25 As they come forward the GENIUS of the wood appears, and turning toward them, speaks. GEN. Stay, gentle Swains, for though in this I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes; 23 give] Too lightly expressed for the occasion. Hurd. 30 Alpheus] Virg. Æn. iii. 694. 'Alpheum, fama est, huc Elidis amnem Occultas egisse vias subter mare, qui nunc Ore, Arethusa, tuo,' &c. Newton. 30 35 40 I know this quest of yours, and free intent 46 curl] Jonson's Mask at Welbeck, 1633, ver. 15. 'When was old Sherwood's head more quaintly curl'd.' 50 brush] Tempest, act i. sc. 4. 'As wicked dew as e'er my mother brush'd.' and P. L. v. ver. 429. 52 cross] Shakesp. Jul. Cæs. act i. sc. 3. Warton. 'And when the cross blue lightning seem'd to open Warton. 45 50 And early, ere the odorous breath of morn Awakes the slumb'ring leaves, or tassel'd horn Shakes the high thicket, haste I all about, Number my ranks, and visit every sprout With puissant words, and murmurs made to bless; That sit upon the nine infolded spheres, To lull the daughters of Necessity, 65 And keep unsteady Nature to her law, 70 And the low world in measur'd motion draw 73 gross] Compare Shakesp. Merchant of Venice, act v. sc. 1. 'There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubims: Such harmony is in immortal sounds! But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close us in, we cannot hear it.' Shakesp. Mid. N. D. act iii. sc. 1. 'And I will purge thy mortal grossness so,' &c. Warton. |