With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that fues; And ye five other wand'ring fires that move Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run And nourish all things; let your castless change Ye mists and exhalations that now rise His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow, 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 flow Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise: Bear on your wings and on your notes his praise. To hill or valley, fountain or fresh shade Hail, Universal Lord! be bounteous still To give us only good; and if the night 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 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 to earth, and dust to dust!' Then shall come the judgment sign; Tremble, then, thou silent tomb! 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 ; |