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With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that fues;

And ye five other wand'ring fires that move
In mystic dance, not without song, resound
His praise, who out of darkness called up light
Air, and ye elements, the eldest birth

Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual circle, multiform, and miz,

And nourish all things; let your castless change
Vary to our great Maker st new praise.

Ye mists and exhalations that now rise
From hill or steaming lake, dusky or grey,
Till the sun paint your feecy skirts with gold,
In honour to the world's great Author rise!
Whether to deck with clouds the uncolour'd sky,
Or wet the thirsty earth with falling show'rs,
Rising or falling et advance is praise.

His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow,

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Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye pines

With ev'ry plant, in sign of worship wave.

Fountains, and ye that warble as ye

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Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise:
Join voices, all ye living souls; ye birds,
That singing up to heaven's gate ascend,

Bear on your wings and on your notes his praise.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep:
Witness if I be silent, morn or even,

To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade
Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise.

Hail, Universal Lord! be bounteous still

To give us only good; and if the night
Has gather'd aught of evil, or conceal'd,
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.

MILTON.

A DIRGE.

'Earth to earth, and dust to dust!"

Here the evil and the just,

Here the youthful and the old,

Here the fearful and the bold,

Here the matron and the maid,

In one silent bed are laid;
Here the vassal and the king,
Side by side lie withering;

Here the sword and sceptre rust

'Earth to earth, and dust to dust!'

Age on age shall roll along

O'er this pale and mighty throng; Those that wept them, those that weep,

All shall with these sleepers sleep.

Brothers, sisters of the worm,

Summer's sun, or winter's storm,

Song of peace, or battle's roar,

Ne'er shall break their slumbers more,

Death shall keep his sullen trust

Earth to earth, and dust to dust!'

But a day is coming fast,
Earth, thy mightiest and thy last,
It shall come in fear and wonder,
Heralded by trump and thunder;
It shall come in strife and toil,
It shall come in blood and spoil,
It shall come in empires' groans,
Burning temples, trampled thrones:
Then ambition rue thy lust!-

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Earth to earth, and dust to dust!'

Then shall come the judgment sign;
In the east the King shall shine;
Flashing from heaven's golden gate,
Thousand thousands round his state
Spirits with the crown and plume,

Tremble, then, thou silent tomb!
Heaven shall open to our sight,

Earth be turn'd to living light,

Kingdom's of the ransom'd justEarth to earth, and dust to dust!'

Then thy mount Jerusalem,

Shall be gorgeous as a gem;

Then shall in the desert rise,

Fruits of more than Paradise ;
Earth by angel feet be trod,
One great garden of her God:

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