The Hind and the Panther.
103
He order'd all things with a busie care,
And cells, and refectories did prepare,
And large provisions laid of winter fare.
But now and then let fall a word or two
Of hope, that heav'n some miracle might show,
And, for their sakes, the sun shou'd backward go;
Against the laws of nature upward climb,
And, mounted on the Ram, renew the prime:
For which two proofs in Sacred story lay,
Of Ahaz dial, and of Joshuah's day.
In expectation of such times as these
A chapel hous'd 'em, truly call'd of ease:
For Martyn much devotion did not ask,
They pray'd sometimes, and that was all their task.
And cells, and refectories did prepare,
And large provisions laid of winter fare.
But now and then let fall a word or two
Of hope, that heav'n some miracle might show,
And, for their sakes, the sun shou'd backward go;
Against the laws of nature upward climb,
And, mounted on the Ram, renew the prime:
For which two proofs in Sacred story lay,
Of Ahaz dial, and of Joshuah's day.
In expectation of such times as these
A chapel hous'd 'em, truly call'd of ease:
For Martyn much devotion did not ask,
They pray'd sometimes, and that was all their task.
It happen'd (as beyond the reach of wit
Blind prophecies may have a lucky hit)
That, this accomplish'd, or at least in part,
Gave great repute to their new Merlin's art.
Blind prophecies may have a lucky hit)
That, this accomplish'd, or at least in part,
Gave great repute to their new Merlin's art.
Some
