Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/373

 JOHN MILTON

Who in their nightly watchfull Sphears, Lead in swift round the Months and Years. The Sounds, and Seas with all their finny drove Now to the Moon in wavering Morrice move, And on the Tawny Sands and Shelves, Trip the pert Fairies and the dapper Elves, By dimpled Brook, and Fountain brim, The Wood-Nymphs deckt with Daisies trim, Their merry wakes and pastimes keep. What hath night to do with sleep ? Night hath better sweets to prove, Venus now wakes, and wak'ns Love. . . . Com, knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastick round.

322 (ii)

ECHO

SWEET Echo, sweetest Nymph that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell By slow Meander's margcnt green, And in the violet imbroidcr'd vale

Where the love-lorn Nightingale Nightly to thee her sad Song mourneth well. Canst thou not tell me of a gentle Pair That likest thy Narcissus are?

O if thou have Hid them in som flowry Cave,

Tell me but where

Sweet Queen of Parly, Daughter of the Sphear! So maist thou be translated to the skies, And give resounding grace to all Heav'ns Harmonies!

34'

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