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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ODE. To his Honoured Friend Dr. Woodford,
On his Excellent Paraphrase of SALOMON'S SONG.
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 | A paraphrase upon the canticles |  |
ODE. To his Honoured Friend Dr. Woodford, On his Excellent Paraphrase of SALOMON'S SONG.
So Eastern Spices, and rich Gums send out
In the warm Limbeck while they pant,
A precious Vapour spreading all about,
Which the cold Mass did seem to want;
But urg'd with equal heat it up do's rise,
The Active Spirit now more nimbly flies,
Ascending Balm in Dew distils,
And far-extended Air with fragrant Essence fills.
In the warm Limbeck while they pant,
A precious Vapour spreading all about,
Which the cold Mass did seem to want;
But urg'd with equal heat it up do's rise,
The Active Spirit now more nimbly flies,
Ascending Balm in Dew distils,
And far-extended Air with fragrant Essence fills.
An holy Fire, Woodford, in Thee has rais'd,
Numbers so sweet, so rich, and high,
Methinks I see Thy eager Soul amaz'd,
In its blest lyric Ecstasy,
Melting away in Stream of fairest Verse;
Which when to Mortal Ear Thou do'st rehearse,
With purling Noise it seems to move,
Its Music Charms th' attending Ear, the Soul it's Love.
Numbers so sweet, so rich, and high,
Methinks I see Thy eager Soul amaz'd,
In its blest lyric Ecstasy,
Melting away in Stream of fairest Verse;
Which when to Mortal Ear Thou do'st rehearse,
With purling Noise it seems to move,
Its Music Charms th' attending Ear, the Soul it's Love.
Hail blessed Flame, that did'st such Verse inspire!
And to an humble Heart dispense,
From the chast Touch of an Harmonious Lyre,
Such Angel sounds, such Mystic sense:
High God of Love's Love unto Man he sings;
The Spouses choicest Beauties are the Kings:
Who pour'd his Blood, here sweetly pours
His Soul out to his Spouse in these Divine Amours.
And to an humble Heart dispense,
From the chast Touch of an Harmonious Lyre,
Such Angel sounds, such Mystic sense:
The Spouses choicest Beauties are the Kings:
Who pour'd his Blood, here sweetly pours
His Soul out to his Spouse in these Divine Amours.
Immortal Love! Cement of this huge Frame,
Dearest First-born of the Mind,
Who wer't become Impure Romance, a Name,
Thee undebauch'd where could we find?
Yet art indeed wise Natures beauteous Child,
Till with the Bodies fouler steam defil'd;
Here rais'd to Soul and Mystery,
All pure, all holy thou art agen, Love Travestie.
Dearest First-born of the Mind,
Who wer't become Impure Romance, a Name,
Thee undebauch'd where could we find?
Yet art indeed wise Natures beauteous Child,
Till with the Bodies fouler steam defil'd;
Here rais'd to Soul and Mystery,
All pure, all holy thou art agen, Love Travestie.
Wisest of Kings and Men, was there sent down
A double Portion of Thy Rage?
And Heavenly Laurel this chast Brow to Crown?
Greater than Men and Kings did engage,
Thee, happy Wordford, to this lofty Song;
Touch't from his Altar with a Coal thy Tongue:
Then we, and no prophane Thought neer,
May say a greater too than Salomon is Here.
A double Portion of Thy Rage?
And Heavenly Laurel this chast Brow to Crown?
Greater than Men and Kings did engage,
Thee, happy Wordford, to this lofty Song;
Touch't from his Altar with a Coal thy Tongue:
Then we, and no prophane Thought neer,
May say a greater too than Salomon is Here.
W. Croune. M. D. Fellow of the Colledg.
| A paraphrase upon the canticles | |