Cyriac, this three-years-day, these eyes, though clear, To outward view, of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot; Nor to their idle orbs doth sight appear Of sun, or moon, or star, throughout the year, Or man, or woman. Yet I argue not
Against Heaven's hand or will, nor bate a jot Of heart or hope; but still bear up and steer Right onward. What supports me, dost thou ask? The conscience, Friend, to have lost them overplied In liberty's defence, my noble task,
Of which all Europe rings from side to side.
This thought might lead me thro' the world's vain mask Content, though blind, had I no better guide.
WHEN THE ASSAULT WAS INTENDED TO THE CITY.
Captain, or Colonel, or Knight in arms,
Whose chance on these defenceless doors may seize, If deed of honour did thee ever please,
Guard them, and him within protect from harms He can requite thee; for he knows the charms That call Fame on such gentle acts as these, And he can spread thy name o'er lands and seas, Whatever clime the sun's bright circle warms. Lift not thy spear against the Muses' bower: The great Emathian conqueror bid spare The house of Pindarus, when temple and tower Went to the ground; and the repeated air Of sad Electra's poet had the power To save th' Athenian walls from ruin bare.
CREATOR Spirit by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid, Come visit every pious mind; Come pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free, And make thy temples worthy thee.
O, source of uncreated light, The Father's promised Paraclete! Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire, Our hearts with heavenly love inspire Come, and thy sacred unction bring To sanctify us while we sing.
Plenteous of grace, descend from high,
Rich in thy sevenfold energy!
Thou strength of his Almighty hand,
Whose power does heaven and earth command.
Proceeding Spirit, our defence,
Who dost the gift of tongues dispense,
And crownst thy gift with eloquence i
Refine and purge our earthly parts: But, oh, inflame and fire our hearts! Our frailties help, our vice control, Submit the senses to the soul;
And when rebellious they are grown, Then lay thy hand, and hold them down.
Chase from our minds th' infernal foe, And peace, the fruit of love, bestow; And, lest our feet should step astray, Protect and guide us in the way.
Make us eternal truths receive, And practice all that we believe: Give us thyself, that we may see The Father, and the Son, by thee.
Immortal honour, endless fam, Attend th' Almighty Father's .. The Saviour Son be glorified, Who for lost man's redemptio.. dk ' And equal adoration be, Eternal Paraclete, to thee!
YE nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: To heavenly themes sublimer strains belong. The mossy fountains and the sylvan shades, The dreams of Pindus and the Aonian maids, Delight no more. O Thou my voice inspire, Who touched Isaiah's hallowed lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the bard begun; A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a son! From Jesse's root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies: The ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves shall move, And on its top descends the mystic dove. Ye heavens! from high the dewy nectar pour, And in soft silence shed the kindly shower! The sick and weak the healing plant shall aid, From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. All crimes shall cease, and ancient frauds shall fail ; Returning Justice lift aloft her scale:
Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-robed Innocence from heaven descend.
Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn; Oh, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! See, Nature hastes her earliest wreaths to bring, With all the incense of the breathing Spring: See lofty Lebanon his head advance, See nodding forests on the mountains dance: See spicy clouds from lowly Sharon rise, And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies! Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers; Prepare the way! A God, a God appears! A God, a God! the vocal hills reply; The rocks proclaim the approaching Deity. Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies! Sink down, ye mountains; and ye valleys, rise! With heads declined, ye cedars, homage pay! Be smooth, ye rocks; ye rapid floods, give way! The Saviour comes! by ancient bards foretola; Hear him, ye deaf; and all ye blind, behold. He from thick film shall purge the visual ray, And on the sightless eyeball pour the day: "Tis he the obstructed paths of sound shall clear, And bid new music charm the unfolding ear: The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego, And leap exulting, like the bounding roe. No sigh, no murmur, the wide world shall hear; From every face he wipes off every tear. In adamantine chains shall death be bound, And hell's grim tyrant feel the eternal wound. As the good shepherd tends his fleecy care, Seeks freshest pasture, and the purest air; Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs, By day o'ersees them, and by night protects;
« AnteriorContinua » |