A paraphrase upon the canticles and some select hymns of the New and Old Testament, with other occasional compositions in English verse. By Samuel Woodford |
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 | A paraphrase upon the canticles |  |
23
CHORUS Amicorum Sponsi.
Quæ est ista quæ ascendit per, &c.
Chorus.
What fair One's that, who from the Desert comes,
Strait as a Palm, and breathing Odorous Gums;
Or like those Pillars, which from th' Altar rise,
Of mystic Smoak, on which Heav'ns Pavement lies;
Th' expiring Soul of Myrrh, to its last abode
Hasting, as if 'twould be it self a God?
So choice a Beauty, and Divinely fair,
A meen so lovely, and so bright an Air,
Centred in whom all just Perfections meet,
The Wise, the Good, the Awful, and the Sweet,
Is only worthy him, whose sacred Love,
None equal knows, but his, who reigns above.
Strait as a Palm, and breathing Odorous Gums;
Or like those Pillars, which from th' Altar rise,
Of mystic Smoak, on which Heav'ns Pavement lies;
Th' expiring Soul of Myrrh, to its last abode
Hasting, as if 'twould be it self a God?
So choice a Beauty, and Divinely fair,
A meen so lovely, and so bright an Air,
Centred in whom all just Perfections meet,
The Wise, the Good, the Awful, and the Sweet,
Is only worthy him, whose sacred Love,
None equal knows, but his, who reigns above.
Behold his Bed (his Bed that's Salomons,
As far as Heav'n admits comparisons)
No Queen need dread the terrors of the Night,
With such a Watch, so 'appointed, and so bright.
About it Sixty valiant Grooms attend,
Such as for triumph Israel forth do's send.
All valiant Men, and expert all in War,
Girt as in Fight her mighty Conquerours are;
Each with his Sword upon his guarded Thigh,
And able each an Army to defy,
But whose united Forces all meet here,
To keep the Post and drive thence grizly fear.
As far as Heav'n admits comparisons)
No Queen need dread the terrors of the Night,
With such a Watch, so 'appointed, and so bright.
About it Sixty valiant Grooms attend,
Such as for triumph Israel forth do's send.
All valiant Men, and expert all in War,
Girt as in Fight her mighty Conquerours are;
Each with his Sword upon his guarded Thigh,
And able each an Army to defy,
But whose united Forces all meet here,
To keep the Post and drive thence grizly fear.
A Chair the King, of Cedar too has made,
The cleanest Trees that Libanus e're had,
Whose Balli'sters are of finest Silver wrought,
The floor of Gold, from Ophirs treasures brought;
The cleanest Trees that Libanus e're had,
Whose Balli'sters are of finest Silver wrought,
The floor of Gold, from Ophirs treasures brought;
24
Its Cano'py of the richest Tyrian dye,
Enough to upbraid a meaner Majesty.
Such the Materials, but Art Divine,
Ith' Workmanship does Nature far out-shine.
For all with winged Loves tis Carv'd around,
Love in more various postures ne're was found.
Some on Heav'ns Message flying, from above,
Thither advancing some our mortal love,
Which all refin'd, like Prophets, others Preach,
But learn of Sions Daughters, whom they seem to teach.
—These are the shadows, fair One, of that bliss
Awaits Thy love, and all are Myste'ries:
Which none, but he that's Wise, can understand,
Nor any write but with a guided Hand.
Enough to upbraid a meaner Majesty.
Such the Materials, but Art Divine,
Ith' Workmanship does Nature far out-shine.
For all with winged Loves tis Carv'd around,
Love in more various postures ne're was found.
Some on Heav'ns Message flying, from above,
Thither advancing some our mortal love,
Which all refin'd, like Prophets, others Preach,
But learn of Sions Daughters, whom they seem to teach.
—These are the shadows, fair One, of that bliss
Awaits Thy love, and all are Myste'ries:
Which none, but he that's Wise, can understand,
Nor any write but with a guided Hand.
| A paraphrase upon the canticles | |