Page:The Pleasures of Imagination - Akenside (1744).djvu/66

52 Distill'd around them; till at once the clouds Disparting wide in midway sky, withdrew Their airy veil, and left a bright expanse Of empyréan flame, where spent and drown'd Afflicted vision plung'd in vain to scan What object it involv'd. My feeble eyes Indur'd not. Bending down to earth I stood, With dumb attention. Soon a female voice, As watry murmurs sweet, or warbling shades, With sacred invocation thus began.

Father of gods and mortals! whose right arm With reins eternal guides the moving heav'ns, Bend thy propitious ear. Behold well-pleas'd I seek to finish thy divine decree. With frequent steps I visit yonder seat Of man, thy offspring; from the tender seeds Of justice and of wisdom, to evolve The latent honours of his generous frame; Till thy conducting hand shall raise his lot From earth's dim scene to these ætherial walks, The temple of thy glory. But not me, Not my directing voice he oft requires, Or hears delighted: this inchanting maid, Th' associate thou hast giv'n me, her alone He loves, O father! absent, her he craves; And but for her glad presence ever join'd, Rejoices not in mine: that all my hopes This