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Poems on Several Occasions

With Anne Boleyn to King Henry VIII. An Epistle. By Mrs. Elizabeth Tollet. The Second Edition
  

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Sacred ODE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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Sacred ODE.

Heav'nly Muse! my Soul inspire,
Tune my Voice, and string my Lyre:
Higher yet, and yet more high
Lift the mutual Harmony.
Wake me from delusive Dreams;
Vain imaginary Themes:
Lift my Voice to him above;
Wisdom, Word, and heav'nly Love.
How ineffable thy Birth?
Progeny of Heav'n and Earth!

121

God e'er Time his Course began;
In his destin'd Period Man.
Offspring of a spotless Maid;
Infant in a Manger lay'd;
Welcom'd by angelic Strains;
Publish'd to the harmless Swains.
Usher'd by a new-born Star;
Sought by Sages from afar.
By the Tyrant's Rage explor'd;
Rescu'd from the fatal Sword:
Nourish'd on the Banks of Nile;
Son recall'd from that Exile.
Heir of David's ancient Throne;
Public Victim to atone:
Paschal Lamb and heav'nly Bread,
Food by which our Souls are fed.
King by servile Scourges torn,
Piercing Nails, and pointed Thorn;
Sol his frighted Beams withdrew,
Struck with Horror at the View:
Cou'd the Sun thy Suff'rings see,
And not sympathize with thee;
Genuine Light! who kindled his
Rising from the dark Abyss.
Nature to her Centre shook;
Ghosts their former Bodies took:
Torn the Veil to common Eyes
Leaves the naked Mysteries.
Was it not enough he dy'd?
Wounds on Wounds are multiply'd?
Can the Dead be doubly slain?
Are they sensible of Pain?

122

Issues from his bleeding Side
Water with the vital Tide:
That our scarlet Sins to lave;
This to expiate and to save.
Scene of Death, O! when to end?
See! his mournful Friends attend,
In the silent Grave to lay
Death! thy unresisting Prey.
Boast thy Triumph, Death! undone
By the Conquest thou hast won.
Barr'd are all thy Gates in vain;
He shall burst the Bars again:
As the Sun in Western Skies
Sets, but only sets to rise,
He resumes, and he alone
Voluntary Life laid down.
Now he mounts again on high
Glorious in his Victory:
Mortal Eyes pursue his Flight,
Lost amid the Fields of Light:
Angels wait him on the Wing:
Hark! alternate how they sing,
Open on your Hinges fly,
Azure Portals of the Sky!
To the King of Majesty.