ODE XVI.
[Now faire and Cleare, the Heavens are pleas'd to Smile]
1
Now faire and Cleare, the Heavens are pleas'd to Smile;
The purgéd Ayre doth rise,
Full, in her Balme and Spice;
Spiknard and Cassia breath, to reconcile
Opposéd Elements; Aurora faire
Spreads all the Treasure of her haire,
T' envite the Active Phebus more away,
And glad the Creatures in a well-come day.
2
The night is fled, and Daye's best Chorister
Kickes his feild-Bed with Scorne;
In livelie Rapture, borne
To those Etheriall Courts of wonder, where
His Liricke notes, left fyled,
Preservéd are, vnsoyled;
The Royall Eagle, in the welkin towers,
And for his prey, with mightie pineon Scowers.
3
The manly Cocke, has long his Bugle shrilled;
And thriftie villagers
Have long since shaked their Ears;
Each busie in the Labour he is Skill'd;
Their frugall wives Assay
The offices of Day;
The night-pent flockes vnbound, spread ore the Hills,
And Coridon, their Swaine, his loud Pipe Shrills.
4
Only I slug it, with a careles Head;
And my free Genius Steepe
In the wide Gulph of Sleep;
And loose my Spirrits in a tempting Bed.
My Limbes, vnapt to vse,
And all my Ioyes, my Muse,
Forgot in Slumbers; and my heavie Eyes
Invite fresh Dreames; I have noe will to rise.
5
Yet let not vertue leave me; I will Shake
Those fetters into Ayre;
And my quick Thought prepare,
For free and active Rapture. I will make
Rich Nature open All
Her treasures; which shall fall
A harvest, to enrich my sober Qvill;
And purgéd Ears, with gratefull Accents fill.
6
Forsake me, you dull ministers of Sleepe,
And let me Raise my Qvill,
To Court th' Olimpicke Hill,
With Earlie praises; and Survay the Heape
Of Nature's bounties. Then
If I (soe bold) may Pen
Something to praise Him, whom I most admire
My God, my Glorie; I have my Desire.
