Of long-uncoupled bed and childless eld, Which, 'mongst the wanton Gods, a foul reproach So mounting up in icy-pearled car, Through middle empire of the freezing air But, all unwares, with his cold kind embrace Unhous'd thy virgin soul from her fair biding place. IV. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; V. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, Hid from the world in a low-delved tomb; Could Heaven for pity thee so strictly doom? Oh no! for something in thy face did shine Above mortality, that show'd thou wast divine. VI. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, VII. Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof ; Of shak'd Olympus by mischance didst fall Of sheeny Heaven, and thou, some Goddess fled, Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? VIII. Or wert thou that just Maid, who once before Or wert thou Mercy, that sweet-smiling youth? Or that crown'd matron sage white-robed Truth? Or any other of that heavenly brood Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some good? IX. Or wert thou of the golden-winged host, To scorn the sordid world, and unto heaven aspire? X. But oh! why didst thou not stay here below To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart? XI. Then thou, the Mother of so sweet a Child, Her false-imagin'd loss cease to lament, And wisely learn to curb thy sorrows wild; . That, till the world's last end, shall make thy name to live. ON TIME. FLY, envious Time, till thou run out thy race; Whose speed is but the heavy plummet's pace; So little is our loss, So little is thy gain! For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'd, And last of all thy greedy self consum'd, Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss With an individual kiss; And Joy shall overtake us as a flood, When every thing that is sincerely good And perfectly divine, With Truth, and Peace, and Love, shall ever shine About the supreme throne Of him, to whose happy-making sight alone When once our heavenly-guided soul shall clime; Then, all this earthly grossness quit, Attir'd with stars, we shall for ever sit, Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee, |