192
COWLEY'S POEMS.
[B. I.
So long her conqueror, Fortune's spite pursued;
Till with unwearied virtue he subdued 10
All home-bred malice, and all foreign boasts;
Their strength was Armies, his the Lord of Hosts,
Thou, who didst David's royal stem adorn,
And gav'st him birth from whom thyself wast born;
Who didst in triumph at Death's court appear, 15
And slew'st him with thy nails, thy cross, and spear,
Whilst Hell's black tyrant trembled to behold
The glorious light he forfeited of old;
Who, heaven's glad burthen now, and justest pride,
Sitt'st high enthron'd next thy great Father's side 20
(Where hallowed flames help to adorn that head
Which once the blushing thorns environed.
Till crimson drops of precious blood hung down
Like rubies to enrich thine humble crown),
Ev'n thou my breast with such blest rage inspire, 25
As mov'd the tuneful strings of David's lyre;
Guide my bold steps with thine own travelling flame,
In these untrodden paths to sacred fame!
Lo, with pure hands thy heavenly fire to take.
My well-chang'd Muse I a chaste Vestal make! 30
From Earth's vain joys, and Love's soft witchcraft, free,
I consecrate my Magdalene to thee!
Lo, this great work, a temple to thy praise,
On polish'd pillars of strong verse I raise!
A temple, where if thou vouchsafe to dwell, 35
It Solomon's and Herod's shall excel.
Till with unwearied virtue he subdued 10
All home-bred malice, and all foreign boasts;
Their strength was Armies, his the Lord of Hosts,
Thou, who didst David's royal stem adorn,
And gav'st him birth from whom thyself wast born;
Who didst in triumph at Death's court appear, 15
And slew'st him with thy nails, thy cross, and spear,
Whilst Hell's black tyrant trembled to behold
The glorious light he forfeited of old;
Who, heaven's glad burthen now, and justest pride,
Sitt'st high enthron'd next thy great Father's side 20
(Where hallowed flames help to adorn that head
Which once the blushing thorns environed.
Till crimson drops of precious blood hung down
Like rubies to enrich thine humble crown),
Ev'n thou my breast with such blest rage inspire, 25
As mov'd the tuneful strings of David's lyre;
Guide my bold steps with thine own travelling flame,
In these untrodden paths to sacred fame!
Lo, with pure hands thy heavenly fire to take.
My well-chang'd Muse I a chaste Vestal make! 30
From Earth's vain joys, and Love's soft witchcraft, free,
I consecrate my Magdalene to thee!
Lo, this great work, a temple to thy praise,
On polish'd pillars of strong verse I raise!
A temple, where if thou vouchsafe to dwell, 35
It Solomon's and Herod's shall excel.
