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"Of Chaos, Anarch old: she near his throne
"Oft taught the ratling elements to chime
"With tenfold din; till late to earth upborn
"On strident wing, what time fair Poesie
"Emerg'd from Gothic cloud, and faintly shot
"Rekindling gleams of lustre. Her the fiend
"Opprest; forcing to utter uncouth dirge,
"Runic, or Leonine; and with dire chains
"Fetter'd her scarce-fledg'd pinion. I such bonds
"Aim'd to destroy, mistaking: bonds like these
"'Twere greater art t'ennoble, and refine.
"For this superiour part Musæus came:
"Thou cam'st, and at thy magic touch the chains
"Off dropt, and (passing strange!) soft-wreathed bands
"Of flow'rs their place supply'd: which well the Muse
"Might wear for choice, not force; obstruction none,
"But lov'liest ornament. Wond'rous this, yet here
"The wonder rests not; various argument.
"Oft taught the ratling elements to chime
"With tenfold din; till late to earth upborn
"On strident wing, what time fair Poesie
"Emerg'd from Gothic cloud, and faintly shot
"Rekindling gleams of lustre. Her the fiend
"Opprest; forcing to utter uncouth dirge,
"Runic, or Leonine; and with dire chains
"Fetter'd her scarce-fledg'd pinion. I such bonds
"Aim'd to destroy, mistaking: bonds like these
"'Twere greater art t'ennoble, and refine.
"For this superiour part Musæus came:
"Thou cam'st, and at thy magic touch the chains
"Off dropt, and (passing strange!) soft-wreathed bands
"Of flow'rs their place supply'd: which well the Muse
"Might wear for choice, not force; obstruction none,
"But lov'liest ornament. Wond'rous this, yet here
"The wonder rests not; various argument.
"Remains
