And chid her barking waves into attention,
And fell Charybdis murmured soft applause,
Yet they in pleasing slumber lulled the sense,
And in sweet madness robbed it of itself;
But such a sacred and home-felt delight,
Such sober certainty of waking bliss,
I never heard till now. I'll speak to her,
And she shall be my queen.

SONNETS.

ON HIS BLINDNESS

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hiile,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest he, returning, chide :
“ Doth God exact day-labour, light denied ?"

I fondly ask : but Patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, 'God doth not need

Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best : his state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed,

And pass o'er land and ocean without rest ;
They also serve, who only stand and wait.'

ON HIS DECEASED WIFE.

Methought I saw my late espoused saint
· Brought to me like Alcestis from the grave,

Whom Jove's great son to her glad husband gave,

Rescued from death by force, though pale and faint Mine, as whom washed from spot of childbed taint

Purification in the old law did save;
And such as yet once more I trust to have

Full sight of her in Heaven without restraint,
Came vested all in white, pure as her mind :

Her face was veiled, yet to my fancied sight,

Love, sweetness, goodness, in her person shined
So clear, as in her face with more deliglit;

But 0, as to embrace me she inclined,
I waked, she fled, and day brought back my night.

ON THE MASSACRE IN PIEDMONT

Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones

Lie scattered on the Alpine mountains cold;
Even them who kept thy truth so pure of old,

Forget not : in thy book record their groans

Slain by the bloody Piedmontese, that rolled Mother with infant down the rocks. The moans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they

To heaven. Their martyred blood and ashes sow

O’er all the Italian fields, where still doth sway The triple tyrant ; that from these may grow

A hundred fold, who, having learned thy way,

TO MR. LAWRENCE. Lawrence, of virtuous father, virtuous soli,

Now that the fields are dank, and ways are mire, Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire

Help waste a sullen day, what may be won
From the hard season gaining ? Time will run

On smoother till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen earth, and clothe in fresh attire

The lily and rose that neither sowed nor spun.
What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice
Of Attic taste, with wine, whence we may rise

To hear the lute well touched, or artful voice
Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air;

He who of these delights can judge, and spare
To interpose them oft, is not unwise.

TO CYRIAC SKINNER.
Cyriac, whose grandsire, on the royal bench

Of British Themis, with no mean applause
Pronounced, and in his volumes taught, our laws,

Which others at their bar so often wrench :
To-day deep thoughts resolve with me to drench

In mirth that, after, no repenting draws ;
Let Euclid rest, and Archimedes pause,

And what the Swede intends, and what the French: To measure life learn thou betimes, and know

Toward solid good what leads the nearest way;
For other things mild Heaven a time ordains,
And disapproves that care, though wise in show,

That when superfluous burden loads the day,
And, when God sends a cheerful hour, refrains.

TO THE SAME.
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 throʻthe 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

DRYDEN.

VENI CREATOR

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.

0, 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.

Thou strength of his Alīnighty 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!