The trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sov'reign Lord was by. V. But peaceful was the night, His reign of peace upon the earth began: Smoothly the waters kist, Whisp'ring new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, 65 While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed wave. VI. The stars with deep amaze 70 64 whist] Nash's Dido, 1594. The ayre is cleere, and southerne windes are whist.' Todd. Golding's Ovid, p. 63. "The waters whist.' 'Winds whist.' Aylet's Divine Poems, p. 65. If the winde be whist.' Marlowe's Hero and Leander, p. 13. Far from the toure, when all is whist and still.' And see S. Hardinge's Com. Verses to W. Browne, from MS. in Beloe's Anecd. vi. 68. "The winds that erst were whist Beginne to roare, Each tree, your songes beinge mist, Shreeks as before. Each sproutinge pauncie in the meade For griefe begins to hang a head., The weepinge brooke in grovelling tones glide umblinge doun, Dimples its own sleeke cheeks, and thanks you with a frowne.' And Quarles's Divine Poems, p. 23. The winds were whist.' Bending one way their precious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence; But in their glimmering orbs did glow, Until their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go. VII. And though the shady gloom Had given day her room, The sun himself withheld his wonted speed, And hid his head for shame, As his inferior flame The new enlighten'd world no more should need; He saw a greater sun appear 80 Than his bright throne, or burning axletree could bear. VIII. The shepherds on the lawn, Or e'er the point of dawn, Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; 77 This stanza copied from Spenser's April. 'I sawe Phoebus thrust out his golden hede Upon her to gaze: But when he saw how broade her beames did sprede, It did him amaze. Hee blush't to see another sunne belowe, Ne durst againe his fierie face outshowe.' &c. Warton. Full little thought they then That the mighty Pan Was kindly come to live with them below; Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep, Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep. 90 When such music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet, As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringed noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took ; The air such pleasure loath to lose, 95 With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. X. 100 Nature that heard such sound, Beneath the hollow round Of Cynthia's seat, the airy region thrilling, Now was almost won To think her part was done, And that her reign had here its last fulfilling ; She knew such harmony alone Could hold all heav'n and earth in happier union. XI. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, 105 110 89 Pan] Spenser's July. The flockes of mightie Pan. Warton. That with long beams the shamefac'd night ar ray'd; The helmed Cherubim, And sworded Seraphim, Are seen in glittering ranks with wings display'd, Harping in loud and solemn quire, With unexpressive notes to Heaven's new-born But when of old the sons of morning sung, While the Creator great His constellations set, And the well-balanc'd world on hinges hung; And cast the dark foundations deep, 115 120 And bid the welt'ring waves their oozy channel keep. XIII. Ring out, ye crystal spheres, Once bless our human ears, If ye have pow'r to touch our senses so; And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, 125 116 unexpressive] This word was, perhaps, coined by Shakespeare. As you like it, act iii. sc. 2, 'The fair, the chaste, and unexpressive she!' Warton. 125 crystal] Heaven's hard crystal.' Marlowe's Hero and Leander, p. 90. 128 silver] Machin's Dumbe Knight, 1608. 'It was as silver as the chime of spheres.' Todd. And let the base of heav'n's deep organ blow; And with your ninefold harmony full consort to th' angelic symphony. For if such holy song Inwrap our fancy long, XIV. 131 Time will run back, and fetch the age of gold; And speckled Vanity Will sicken soon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould; And Hell itself will pass away, 136 And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. XV. 140 Yea Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, Mercy will sit between, Thron'd in celestial sheen, 145 With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering: 135 gold] 'See listening Time run back to fetch the age of gold.' Benlowes's Theophila, st. xcv. p. 140 leave] Virg. Æn. viii. 245. 248. regna recludat Pallida, dìs invisa; superque immane barathrum Cernatur, trepidentque immisso lumine Manes.' Warton. 143 Orb'd] In ed. 1645. 'Th' enamell'd arras of the rainbow wearing; And Mercy set between,' &c. |