WONDER How like an angel came I down! How bright are all things here! When first among His works I did appear O how their glory did me crown! The world resembled His eternity, In which my soul did walk; And every thing that I did see Did with me talk. 5 The skies in their magnificence, ΙΟ Oh how divine, how soft, how sweet, how fair! The lively, lovely air, The stars did entertain my sense; And all the works of God so bright and pure, So rich and great, did seem, As if they ever must endure In my esteem. A native health and innocence Within my bones did grow; And while my God did all His glories show, I felt a vigour in my sense That was all spirit: I within did flow I nothing in the world did know Harsh ragged objects were concealed: Sins, griefs, complaints, dissensions, weeping eyes, Which heavenly spirits and the angels prize; And bliss, not trades and poverties, The streets were paved with golden stones; Oh, how did all their lovely faces shine! In joy and beauty they appeared to me. And every thing which here I found, While like an angel I did see, Adorned the ground. Rich diamond and pearl and gold In every place was seen; Rare splendours, yellow, blue, red, white, and green, Mine eyes did everywhere behold; Great wonders clothed with glory did appear. Amazement was my bliss; That and my wealth was everywhere; No joy to this! 40 45 Curst and devised proprieties, With envy, avarice, 50 And fraud, those fiends that spoil even Paradise, Flew from the splendour of mine eyes: And so did hedges, ditches, limits, bounds; I dreamed not aught of those, But wandered over all men's grounds, Proprieties themselves were mine, And hedges ornaments; Walls, boxes, coffers, and their rich contents Did not divide my joys, but all combine. For me they all to wear them seemed, About 1660? 1903. SIR JOHN DENHAM FROM COOPER'S HILL Thames, the most loved of all the Ocean's sons Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea, Like mortal life to meet eternity; 55 бо Though with those streams he no resemblance hold 5 ΙΟ Like profuse kings, resumes the wealth he gave. 15 The mower's hopes nor mock the ploughman's toil, First loves to do, then loves the good he does. Nor are his blessings to his banks confined, But free and common as the sea or wind, 20 Brings home to us and makes both Indies ours, Finds wealth where 't is, bestows it where it wants, 25 So that to us no thing, no place is strange, While his fair bosom is the world's exchange. O, could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! 30 Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; 35 (For things of wonder give no less delight 40 Such was the discord which did first disperse 60 65 This scene had some bold Greek or British bard Beheld of old, what stories had we heard 70 Of fairies, satyrs, and the nymphs, their dames, There Faunus and Sylvanus keep their courts; 75 80 1642. ABRAHAM COWLEY FROM A VOTE This only grant me: that my means may lie Not from great deeds but good alone; Rumour can ope the grave. Acquaintance I would have, but when 't depends Books should, not business, entertain the light; And sleep, as undisturbed as death, the night: My house a cottage more Than palace, and should fitting be 5 ΙΟ For all my use, no luxury: My garden painted o'er With Nature's hand, not Art's, and pleasures yield 15 Thus would I double my life's fading space, For he that runs it well twice runs his race. These unbought sports, this happy staie, But boldly say each night, "To-morrow let my sun his beams display Or in clouds hide them, I have lived to-day." 1636. THE SPRING Though you be absent here, I needs must say As if they sung to pleasure you: 20 5 |