Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
John Milton. 16081674309. At a Solemn Musick
BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav’ns joy, | |
Sphear-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Vers, | |
Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power employ | |
Dead things with inbreath’d sense able to pierce, | |
And to our high-rais’d phantasie present, | 5 |
That undisturbèd Song of pure content, | |
Ay sung before the saphire-colour’d throne | |
To him that sits theron | |
With Saintly shout, and solemn Jubily, | |
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row | 10 |
Their loud up-lifted Angel trumpets blow, | |
And the Cherubick host in thousand quires | |
Touch their immortal Harps of golden wires, | |
With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms, | |
Hymns devout and holy Psalms | 15 |
Singing everlastingly; | |
That we on Earth with undiscording voice | |
May rightly answer that melodious noise; | |
As once we did, till disproportion’d sin | |
Jarr’d against natures chime, and with harsh din | 20 |
Broke the fair musick that all creatures made | |
To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway’d | |
In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood | |
In first obedience, and their state of good. | |
O may we soon again renew that Song, | 25 |
And keep in tune with Heav’n, till God ere long | |
To his celestial consort us unite, | |
To live with him, and sing in endles morn of light. |