Aye sung before the sapphire-colour'd throne With saintly shout, and solemn jubilee; Singing everlastingly: That we on earth, with undiscording voice, As once we did, till disproportion'd sin Jarr'd against nature's chime, and with harsh din Broke the fair music that all creatures made To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd In perfect diapason, whilst they stood In first obedience, and their state of good. Oh, may we soon again renew that song, And keep in tune with heaven, till God, ere long, To his celestial concert us unite, To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light! VII. AN EPITAPH ON THE MARCHIONESS OF WINCHESTER. 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. Her high birth, and her graces sweet, Quickly found a lover meet; The virgin quire, for her, request But with a scarce well-lighted flame; So have I seen some tender slip, Saved with care from winter's nip, The pride of her carnation train, Pluck'd up by some unheedy swain, Who only thought to crop the flower, New shot up from vernal shower; But the fair blossom hangs the head Sideways, as on a dying bed, And those pearls of dew she wears 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, The highly favour'd Joseph bore To him that served for her before, And, at her next birth, much like thee, Far within the bosom bright VIII. SONG ON MAY MORNING. Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flowery May, who, from her green lap, throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire; 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. At a Vacation Exercise in the College, part Latin, part English. HAIL, native language, that by sinews weak |