Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/353

 JOHN MILTON

The idle spear and shield were high up hung; The hooked Chariot stood Unstam'd with hostile blood,

The Trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And Kings sate still with awful eve, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by.

But pcaccfull was the night Whenn the Prince of light

His raign of peace upon the earth began: The Wmdes with wonder whibt, Smoothly the waters kist,

Whispering new joyes to the milde Ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmed wave,

The Stars with deep amaze Stand fixt in stedfast gaze,

Bending one way their pretious influence, And will not take their flight, For all the morning light,

Or Lucifer that often warn'd them thence, But m their glimmering Orbs did glow, Untill their Lord himself bespake, and bid them go.

And though the shady gloom Had given day her room,

The Sun himself with-held his wonted speed, And hid his head for shame, As his infenour flame,

The new enlightn'd world no more should need; He saw a greater Sun appear

Then his bright Throne, or burning Axletrce could bear. Then] than.

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