But peaceful was the night V. His reign of peace upon the earth began ; The winds with wonder whist Smoothly the waters kissed, Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmèd wave. The stars with deep amaze VI. Stand fixed in steadfast gaze, Bending one way their precious influence,1 And will not take their flight, For all the morning light, Or Lucifer that often warned 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-enlightened world no more should need: He saw a greater Sun appear 65 Than his bright throne or burning axletree3 could bear. 70 75 80 1 16. 2 14, end. 8 38. VIII. The shepherds on the lawn, Or ere the point of dawn, 85 Sat simply chatting in a rustic row; Full little thought they than That the mighty Pan1 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. When such music sweet IX. Their hearts and ears did greet As never was by mortal finger strook, Divinely-warbled voice Answering the stringèd noise, As all their souls in blissful rapture took; The air, such pleasure loath to lose, 90 95 With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close. X. 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 heaven and earth in happier union. 1 51, and Glossary. 2 37, 43. ΙΟΙ 105 XI. At last surrounds their sight A globe of circular light, ΙΙΟ That with long beams the shamefaced Night arrayed; The helmèd Cherubim And sworded Seraphim 1 Are seen in glittering ranks with wings displayed, Harping in loud and solemn quire, With unexpressive * notes, to Heaven's new-born Heir. Such music, as 'tis said, Before was never made, XII. But when of old the Sons of Morning sung, While the Creator 2 great His constellations 3 set, And the well-balanced world † on hinges hung, And cast the dark foundations deep, And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep. § XIII. ' Ring out, ye crystal spheres !* Once bless our human ears, If ye have power to touch our senses so; And let your silver chime Move in melodious time, And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; And with your ninefold harmony Make up full consort to the angelic symphony. 115 4 9, 10, note. § Ibid. 276-284. 120 125 130 XIV. For if such holy song Enwrap our fancy long, Time will run back and fetch the age of gold;1 And speckled Vanity Will sicken soon and die, And leprous Sin will melt from earthly mould; And Hell itself will pass away, 135 And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day. 140 XV. Yea, Truth and Justice then Will down return to men, Orbed in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing, Mercy will sit between, Throned in celestial sheen, With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering; And heaven, as at some festival, Will open wide the gates of her high palace-hall. The Babe yet lies in smiling infancy That on the bitter cross Must redeem our loss, So both himself and us to glorify; Yet first, to those ychained in sleep, 145 150 155 The wakeful trump of doom must thunder through the deep 1 31. 2 54. XVII. With such a horrid clang As on Mount Sinai1 rang, While the red fire and smouldering clouds outbrake: The aged Earth, aghast With terror of that blast, Shall from the surface to the centre shake, When at the world's last session 160 The dreadful Judge in middle air* shall spread his throne. XVIII. And then at last our bliss Full and perfect is, But now begins; for from this happy day The old Dragon,2 under ground In straiter limits bound, Not half so far casts his usurpèd sway, And, wroth to see his kingdom fail, The oracles are dumb: XIX. 165 170 No voice or hideous hum Runs through the arched roof in words deceiving; 175 Apollo from his shrine Can no more divine, 3 With hollow shriek the steep of Delphos leaving; No nightly trance or breathed spell Inspires the pale-eyed priest from the prophetic cell. 180 1 87, 88. 2 See Glossary, under "Apocalypse." * P. L. I. 516. 8 39. |