They strain their warbling throats, To welcome in the spring. But in the close of night, When Philomel begins her heav'nly lay, They cease their mutual spite, Drink in her music with delight, And list'ning, silently obey. II. So ceas'd the rival crew, when Purcell came ; They sung no more, or only sung his fame : Struck dumb, they all admir'd the godlike man; The godlike man, Alas! too soon retir'd, As he too late began. We beg not Hell our Orpheus to restore : Had he been there, Their sov'reign's fear Had sent him back before. The pow'r of harmony too well they knew; He long ere this had tun'd their jarring sphere, III. 15 20 The heav'nly choir, who heard his notes from high, Let down the scale of music from the sky;' They handed him along, 25 And all the way he taught, and all the way they sung. Ye brethren of the lyre and tuneful voice! Lament his lot, but at your own rejoice: The first in loftiness of thought surpast; To make a third she join'd the former two. XII. On the monument of a fair maiden Lady, who died at Bath, and is there interred. BELOW this marble monument is laid All that Heav'n wants of this celestial maid; Such were the features of her heav'nly face, 10 Her limbs were form'd with such harmonious grace, 15 All white, a virgin-saint, she sought the skies; 20 High tho' her wit, yet humble was her mind, So pious, as she had no time to spare For human thoughts, but was confin'd to pray'r. In sickness patient, and in death resign'd. '36 30 XIII. EFITAPH on Mrs. MARGARET PASTON, of Burningham in Norfolk. So fair, so young, so innocent, so sweet, In her they met ; but long they could not stay, 'Twas gold too fine to mix without allay. The first in loftiness of thought surpast; To make a third she join'd the former two. XII. On the monument of a fair maiden Lady, who died at Bath, and is there interred. BELOW ELOW this marble monument is laid All that Heav'n wants of this celestial maid; Such were the features of her heav'nly face, 10 Her limbs were form'd with such harmonious grace, 15 20 All white, a virgin-saint, she sought the skies; So pious, as she had no time to spare For human thoughts, but was confin'd to pray'r. In sickness patient, and in death resign'd. '36 XIII. EFITAPH on Mrs, MARGARET PASTON, of Burningham in Norfolk. . So fair, so young, so innocent, so sweet, So ripe a judgment, and so rare a wit, Require at least an age in one to meet. In her they met; but long they could not stay, 'Twas gold too fine to mix without allay. |