All living creatures he doth feed, And with full hand supplies their need. Let us therfore warble forth That his mansion hath on high 9༠ 00 The Passion. I ERE-while of Musick, and Ethereal mirth, In Wintry solstice like the shortn'd light II For now to sorrow must I tune my song, And set my Harpe to notes of saddest wo, Which on our dearest Lord did sease er'e long, Dangers, and snares, and wrongs, and worse then so, Which he for us did freely undergo. Most perfect Heroe, try'd in heaviest plight Of labours huge and hard, too hard for human wight. III He sov'ran Priest stooping his regall head That dropt with odorous oil down his fair eyes, His starry front low-rooft beneath the skies; O what a Mask was there, what a disguise! Yet more; the stroke of death he must abide, Then lies him meekly down fast by his Brethrens side. IV These latter scenes confine my roving vers, Of Lute, or Viol still, more apt for mournful things. 10 20 Befriend me night best Patroness of grief, That Heav'n and Earth are colour'd with my wo; The leaves should all be black wheron I write, And letters where my tears have washt a wannish white. 30 VI See see the Chariot, and those rushing wheels, 40 VII Mine eye hath found that sad Sepulchral rock For sure so well instructed are my tears, VIII Or should I thence hurried on viewles wing, Might think th'infection of my sorrows loud, This Subject the Author finding to be above the yeers he had, when he wrote it, and nothing satisfi'd with what was begun, left it unfinisht. 50 On Time. FLY envious Time, till thou run out thy race, Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace; So little is our loss, So little is thy gain. For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb'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, t'whose happy-making sight alone, When once our heav'nly-guided soul shall clime, Attir'd with Stars, we shall for ever sit, Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time. Upon the Circumcision. YE flaming Powers, and winged Warriours bright, Seas wept from our deep sorrow, He who with all Heav'ns heraldry whileare Sore doth begin His Infancy to sease! 10 20 10 O more exceeding love or law more just? Were lost in death, till he that dwelt above And that great Cov'nant which we still transgress And the full wrath beside Of vengeful Justice bore for our excess, And seals obedience first with wounding smart Huge pangs and strong Will pierce more neer his heart. 20 At a Solemn Musick. BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'ns joy, With Saintly shout, and solemn Jubily, Singing everlastingly; That we on Earth with undiscording voice May rightly answer that melodious noise; As once we did, till disproportion'd sin Jarr'd against natures chime, and with harsh din To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway'd 6 content] concent 1673 IO 20 |