The dances ended, the SPIRIT epiloguises. SP. To the ocean now I fly, Of Hesperus, and his daughters three 980 985 The Graces, and the rosy-bosom'd Hours, There eternal Summer dwells, And west-winds, with musky wing, About the cedarn alleys fling 990 Nard and cassia's balmy smells. Iris there with humid bow Waters the odorous banks, that blow Than her purfled scarf can shew, 995 979 broad] MS. 'plain fields.' Fairfax, B. viii. st. 57. 'O'er the broad fields of heaven's bright wildernesse? Warton and Todd. 988 There] Milton's own edition, 1673, reads 'That there,' but in the errata directs 'That' to be omitted; so it is by Tickell and Fenton, but silently readopted by Newton. Warton. 989 musky] See Cowley's Silva. p. 56, and Love's Riddle, p. 93. "The musky kisses of the west wind.' And drenches with Elysian dew I can fly, or I can run Quickly to the green earth's end, Where the bow'd welkin slow doth bend, And from thence can soar as soon To the corners of the moon. Mortals, that would follow me, Love Virtue, she alone is free; She can teach ye how to climb 1002 Assyrian] Tickell and Fenton read 'the Cyprian Queen. 1017 corners] Macbeth, a. 3. s. 5. Upon the corner of the moon.' Warton. + Higher than the sphery chime: Heav'n itself would stoop to her. 1021 sphery] 'sphery chime' is the chime or music of the spheres Mids. N. Dream, act ii. sc. 7, 'Hermia's sphery eyne.' Machin's Dumbe Knight, (Reed's Old Pl. iv. 447), 'It was as silver as the chime of spheres. Herrick's Hesp. p. 116, Fall down from those thy chiming spheres. Warton and Todd. 1023 stoop] 'bow.' MS. LYCIDAS. In this Monody, the author bewails a learned friend, unfortunately drowned in his passage from Chester on the Irish seas, 1637; and by occasion foretells the ruin of our corrupted clergy, then in their height. YET Once more, O ye laurels, and once more Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. 5 10 2 myrtles brown] Hor. Od. i. 25. 17. Pulla magis atque myrto.' Warton. 8 dead] Phillisides is dead.' Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. v. 8. (Todd's Spenser, viii. 76), and v. 71. 'Sweet bowres of myrtel twigs, and lawrel faire.' 10 Who] 'Neget quis carmina Gallo.' Virg. Ecl. x. 3. Peck. 12 Watery] See Theod. Prodrom. Dos. et Rhod. Am. p. 254, ed. Gaulm. 14 Melodious] Cleveland's Obsequy on Mr. King, 'I like not tears in tune. Todd. Begin then, Sisters of the sacred well, That from beneath the seat of Jove doth spring; So may some gentle Muse With lucky words favour my destin❜d urn, And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud. 25 For we were nurs'd upon the self-same hill, Fed the same flock by fountain, shade, and rill. Together both, ere the high lawns appear'd Under the opening eyelids of the morn, We drove a-field, and both together heard What time the gray-fly winds her sultry horn, Batt'ning our flocks with the fresh dews of night, Oft till the star that rose, at evening, bright, Toward heav'n's descent had slop'd his west'ring Meanwhile the rural ditties were not mute, [wheel. Temper'd to th' oaten flute; 30 17 sweep] E qui Calliopea alquanto surga.' Dante Purg. i. 9. 19 Muse] 'Gentle Muse-he passes.' See Jortin's Tracts, i. p. 341. 23 nurs'd] Compare Past. Ægl. on Sir P. Sidney's death, by L. B. ver. 85. 'Through many a hill and dale,' &c. 26 opening] Middleton's Game at Chess. Like a pearl, Dropp'd from the opening eyelids of the morn.' And Crashaw's Translation of Marino, 'The lids of day.' Warton, Todd. 29 Batt'ning] Drayton's Ecl. ix. 'Their battening flocks on grassie leas to hold.' Warton. 33 Temper'd] On this word see P. Fletcher's Purple Isl. c. ix. st 3. Par. Lost, vii. 598. Warton. |