So full their eyes are of that glorious sight,
And senses fraught with such satiety,

That in nought else on earth they can delight
But in th' aspect of that felicity,

Which they have written in their inward eye,
On which they feed and in their fastened mind
All happy joy and full contentment find.

Then look at last up to that sovereign light
From whose pure beams all perfect Beauty springs,
That kindleth love in every godly sprite,

Even the Love of God, which loathing brings Of this vile world and these gay seeming things; With whose sweet pleasures being so possessed, Thy straying thoughts henceforth for ever rest.

SPENSER.

Harmony.

EFTSOONES they heard a most melodious sound,
Of all that might delight a dainty ear,
Such as at once might not on living ground,
Save in this paradise, be heard elsewhere:
Right hard it was for wight that did it hear,
To read what manner music that might be,
For all that pleasing is to living ear
Was there consorted in one harmony:
Birds, voices, instruments, winds, waters all agree.

The joyous birds, shrouded in cheerful shade,
Their notes unto the voice attempered sweet;
Th' angelical soft trembling voices made
To th' instruments divine respondence meet;
The silver-sounding instruments did meet

With the base murmur of the water's fall; The water's fall, with difference discrete, Now soft, now loud, unto the wind did call ; The gentle warbling wind low answered to all.

SPENSER.

Angels Watching and Ministering.

AND is there care in heaven, and is there love
In heavenly spirits to us creatures base,
That may compassion of our evils move?

There is :-Else much more wretched were the

case

Of men than beasts: But, oh! the exceeding grace

Of Highest God, that loves His creatures so,

And all His works with mercy doth embrace; That blessed angels He sends to and fro,

To serve to wicked man, to serve His wicked foe !

How oft do they their silver bowërs leave,
To come to succour us that succour want!
How oft do they with golden pinions cleave
The flitting skies, like flying pursuivant,
Against foul fiends to aid us militant !
They for us fight: they watch and duly ward,

And their bright squadrons round about us plant; And all for love, and nothing for reward:

Oh, why should Heavenly God to men have such

regard!

SPENSER.

Psalm xxiii.

THE Lord, the Lord my Shepherd is,
And so can never I

Taste misery:

He rests me in green pastures his;

By waters still and sweet,

He guides my feet.

He me revives; leads me the

way

Which righteousness doth take,

For his name's sake:

Yea, though I should through valleys stray Of death's dark shade, I will

No whit fear ill.

For Thou, dear Lord, Thou me besettest

Thy rod and Thy staff be

To comfort me ;

Before me Thou a table sett'st,

Even when foe's envious eye

Doth it espy.

Thou oil'st my head, Thou fill'st my cup;

Nay more, Thou endless good

Shalt give me food.

To Thee, I say, ascended up,
Where Thou the Lord of all
Dost hold Thy hall.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

This side doth beauty take,
For that doth music speak,
Fit orators to make

The strongest judgments weak:
The bar to plead their right,
Is only true delight.

This doth the voice and face,
These gentle lawyers wage,

Like loving brothers' case,

For father's heritage :

That each while each contends,

Itself to other lends.

For beauty beautifies,

With heavenly hue and grace,

The heavenly harmonies;
And in this faultless face,
The perfect beauties be,
A perfect harmony.

Music more lofty swells
In speeches nobly placed :
Beauty as far excels

In action aptly graced :
A friend each party draws,
To countenance his cause.

Love more affected seems
To beauty's lovely light,
And wonder more esteems
Of music's wondrous might;
But both to both so bent,
As both in both are spent.

Music doth witness call
The ear his truth to try:
Beauty brings to the hall
Eye-judgment of the eye.
Both in their objects such
As no exceptions touch.

The common sense, which might
Be arbiter of this,

To be forsooth upright,
To both sides partial is :
He lays on this chief praise,
Chief praise on that he lays.

Then reason princess try,
Whose throne is in the mind,
Which music can in sky
And hidden beauties find,
Say whether thou wilt crown
With limitless renown.

SIR PHILIP SIDNEY.

Thou, God, Seest Me.

O LORD! in me there lieth nought
But to Thy search revealed lies;
For when I sit,

Thou markest it,