 | The miscellaneous works (1739) |  |
SOLILOQUY VI.
O speak! and in the music of thy voice
My soul shall antedate immortal joys;
The tempting calls of sense shall all be drown'd
In the superior sweetness of that sound:
Nature and studious art would strive in vain
To reach the charms of that victorious strain.
O let me hear thee but in whispers break
Thy silence, and in gentle accents speak!
Such accents as ne'er ravish'd mortal ears,
Such as the soul in calm retirement hears;
When from external objects far away,
Her highest pow'rs the call divine obey:
That voice that to ineffable delights,
From mortal things the willing mind invites;
More charming than the notes which angels play,
When they conduct a dying saint away;
While raptur'd he resigns his parting breath,
And smiles on all the solemn pomp of death.
My soul shall antedate immortal joys;
The tempting calls of sense shall all be drown'd
In the superior sweetness of that sound:
Nature and studious art would strive in vain
To reach the charms of that victorious strain.
O let me hear thee but in whispers break
Thy silence, and in gentle accents speak!
Such accents as ne'er ravish'd mortal ears,
Such as the soul in calm retirement hears;
When from external objects far away,
Her highest pow'rs the call divine obey:
That voice that to ineffable delights,
From mortal things the willing mind invites;
More charming than the notes which angels play,
When they conduct a dying saint away;
While raptur'd he resigns his parting breath,
And smiles on all the solemn pomp of death.
When wilt thou speak, and tell me thou art mine?
O how I long to hear that word divine!
When that transporting sound shall bless my ear,
My sullen grief, and ev'ry mortal care;
Fly days, and hours, and measur'd time, with speed,
And let the blest eternity succeed!
O how I long to hear that word divine!
When that transporting sound shall bless my ear,
My sullen grief, and ev'ry mortal care;
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And let the blest eternity succeed!
'Till then the rolling orbs my love shall hear,
And let the whole creation lend an ear.
Witness, ye crystal streams, that murm'ring flow,
For you the secret of my passion know;
Ye fields, ye glades, and ev'ry shadey grove,
The sweet retirements, and delights of love,
I call you all to witness to my flame,
For you have learnt the dear inspiring name;
In gentle echoes you have oft reply'd,
And in soft breezes thro' the valleys sigh'd;
The valleys, mossy caves, and open lawn,
The silent ev'ning, and the chearful dawn;
Thou moon, and ev'ry fair conspicuous star,
Whose silver rays the midnight horrors chear;
And thou bright lamp of day, shalt witness prove,
To the perpetual fervor of my love.
To heav'n and earth my tongue has oft confest,
And heav'n and earth my ardor can attest.
Angels, for you the solemn truth can tell,
And ev'ry pious midnight sigh reveal;
You feel the warmth of this celestial flame,
And bless, with me, the dear transporting name;
Be witness that my raptur'd vows aspire,
To the high theme of your immortal lyre.
And let the whole creation lend an ear.
Witness, ye crystal streams, that murm'ring flow,
For you the secret of my passion know;
Ye fields, ye glades, and ev'ry shadey grove,
The sweet retirements, and delights of love,
I call you all to witness to my flame,
For you have learnt the dear inspiring name;
In gentle echoes you have oft reply'd,
And in soft breezes thro' the valleys sigh'd;
The valleys, mossy caves, and open lawn,
The silent ev'ning, and the chearful dawn;
Thou moon, and ev'ry fair conspicuous star,
Whose silver rays the midnight horrors chear;
And thou bright lamp of day, shalt witness prove,
To the perpetual fervor of my love.
To heav'n and earth my tongue has oft confest,
And heav'n and earth my ardor can attest.
Angels, for you the solemn truth can tell,
And ev'ry pious midnight sigh reveal;
You feel the warmth of this celestial flame,
And bless, with me, the dear transporting name;
Be witness that my raptur'd vows aspire,
To the high theme of your immortal lyre.
But oh! my life, my hope, to thee alone
I strive to make my ardent wishes known;
To thee alone, to thee I would reveal
My tender cares, to thee I dare appeal.
Thou that dost all my secret soul behold,
Peirce all its depths, and ev'ry veil unfold,
Ev'n thou, my glorious judge, thy self shalt prove
Th' eternal witness of my truth and love.
I strive to make my ardent wishes known;
To thee alone, to thee I would reveal
My tender cares, to thee I dare appeal.
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Peirce all its depths, and ev'ry veil unfold,
Ev'n thou, my glorious judge, thy self shalt prove
Th' eternal witness of my truth and love.
| The miscellaneous works (1739) | |