B. I.]
DAVIDEIS.
207
Thou their great nature know'st, nor is it fit
This noblest gem of thine own crown't' omit)
Tell me from whence these heavenly charms arise;
Teach the dull world t' admire what they despise!
As first a various unform'd hint we find
Rise in some godlike poet's fertile mind,
Till all the parts and words their places take,
And with just marches verse and musick make; 450
Such was God's poem, this world's new essay;
So wild and rude in its first draught it lay;
Th' ungovern'd parts no correspondence knew,
An artless war from thwarting motions grew;
Till they to number and fix'd rules were brought 455
By the Eternal Mind's poetick thought.
Water and Air he for the tenor chose,
Earth made the bass, the treble Flame arose:
To th' active moon a quick brisk stroke he gave,
To Saturn's string, a touch more soft and grave. 460
The motions straight, and round, and swift, and slow,
And short, and long, were mix'd and woven so—
Did in such artful figures smoothly fall—
As made this decent-measur'd Dance of All.
And this is musick: sounds that charm our ears, 465
Are but one dressing that rich science wears.
Though no man hear 't, though no man it rehearse,
Yet will there still be musick in my verse;
In this great world so much of it we see,
The lesser, Man, is all o'er harmony; 470
Storehouse of all proportions! single quire!
Which first God's breath did tunefully inspire!
This noblest gem of thine own crown't' omit)
Tell me from whence these heavenly charms arise;
Teach the dull world t' admire what they despise!
As first a various unform'd hint we find
Rise in some godlike poet's fertile mind,
Till all the parts and words their places take,
And with just marches verse and musick make; 450
Such was God's poem, this world's new essay;
So wild and rude in its first draught it lay;
Th' ungovern'd parts no correspondence knew,
An artless war from thwarting motions grew;
Till they to number and fix'd rules were brought 455
By the Eternal Mind's poetick thought.
Water and Air he for the tenor chose,
Earth made the bass, the treble Flame arose:
To th' active moon a quick brisk stroke he gave,
To Saturn's string, a touch more soft and grave. 460
The motions straight, and round, and swift, and slow,
And short, and long, were mix'd and woven so—
Did in such artful figures smoothly fall—
As made this decent-measur'd Dance of All.
And this is musick: sounds that charm our ears, 465
Are but one dressing that rich science wears.
Though no man hear 't, though no man it rehearse,
Yet will there still be musick in my verse;
In this great world so much of it we see,
The lesser, Man, is all o'er harmony; 470
Storehouse of all proportions! single quire!
Which first God's breath did tunefully inspire!
