Poems on Several Occasions With some Select Essays in Prose. In Two Volumes. By John Hughes; Adorn'd with Sculptures |
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ON Divine Poetry. |
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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ON Divine Poetry.
In Nature's Golden Age, when new-born Day
Array'd the Skies, and Earth was green and gay;
When God, with Pleasure all his Works survey'd,
And Virgin Innocence before him play'd;
In that illustrious Morn, that lovely Spring,
The Muse, by Heav'n inspir'd, began to sing.
Descending Angels, in harmonious Lays,
Taught the first happy Pair their Maker's Praise.
Such was this Sacred Art—We now deplore
The Muse's Loss, since Eden is no more.
When Vice from Hell rear'd up its Hydra-Head,
Th'affrighted Maid, with chaste Astræa, fled,
And sought Protection in her native Sky;
In vain the Heathen Nine her Absence wou'd supply.
Array'd the Skies, and Earth was green and gay;
When God, with Pleasure all his Works survey'd,
And Virgin Innocence before him play'd;
In that illustrious Morn, that lovely Spring,
The Muse, by Heav'n inspir'd, began to sing.
Descending Angels, in harmonious Lays,
Taught the first happy Pair their Maker's Praise.
Such was this Sacred Art—We now deplore
The Muse's Loss, since Eden is no more.
When Vice from Hell rear'd up its Hydra-Head,
Th'affrighted Maid, with chaste Astræa, fled,
And sought Protection in her native Sky;
In vain the Heathen Nine her Absence wou'd supply.
Yet to some Few, whose dazzling Virtues shone
In Ages past, her heav'nly Charms were known.
Hence learn'd the Bard, in lofty Strains to tell
How patient Virtue triumph'd over Hell;
And hence the Chief, who led the chosen Race
Thro' parting Seas, deriv'd his Songs of Praise:
She gave the rapturous Ode, whose ardent Lay
Sings Female Force, and vanquish'd Sisera;
She tun'd to pious Notes the Psalmist's Lyre,
And fill'd Isaiah's Breast with more than Pindar's Fire!
In Ages past, her heav'nly Charms were known.
Hence learn'd the Bard, in lofty Strains to tell
How patient Virtue triumph'd over Hell;
And hence the Chief, who led the chosen Race
Thro' parting Seas, deriv'd his Songs of Praise:
She gave the rapturous Ode, whose ardent Lay
Sings Female Force, and vanquish'd Sisera;
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And fill'd Isaiah's Breast with more than Pindar's Fire!
| Poems on Several Occasions | |