From Realms of never-interrupted peace,
From thy fair station near the throne of Grace,
From Quires of Angells, Joys in endless round,
& endless Harmonys enchanting sound,
Charmd with a zeal the Makers praise to show,
Bright Gift of Verse descend, & here below
My ravishd heart with raisd affection fill,
& warbling ore the Soul incline my will.
Among thy pomp lett rich expression wait,
Lett ranging numbers form thy train compleat,
While at thy motions thro' the ravishd sky
Sweet Sounds & Eccho's sweet-resounding fly,
& where thy feet with gliding beauty tread
Lett Fancys flowry spring erect its head.
It comes it comes with unaccustomd light,
The tracts of airy Thought grow wondrous bright,
Its notions ancient Memory reviews,
& Young Invention new design pursues,
To some attempt my will & wishes press,
& pleasure raisd in hope forebodes success.
My God from whom proceed the Gifts divine
My God the gift I think I feel is thine.
Be this no vain Illusion which I find,
Nor natures Impulse on the passive mind,
But reasons act, producd by good desire,
By Grace enlivend with celestiall fire:
While base Conceits like misty sons of night
Before such beams of Glory wing their flight;
& frail Affections born of earth decay
Like weeds that wither in the warmer ray.
I thank thee Father with a gratefull mind,
Man's undeserving & thy mercy kind.
I now perceive I long to sing thy praise,
I now perceive I long to find my lays
The Sweet incentives of anothers love,
& sure such Longings have their rise above.
My resolution stands confirmed within,
My Lines aspiring eagerly begin.
Begin my lines to such a subject due
That aids our Labours & rewards ym too;
Begin while Canaan opens to mine eyes,
Where Soules & Songs divinely formd arise.
As one, whom ore ye Sweetly varyd meads
Intire Recess or Lonely Pleasure leads
To verdurd banks, to paths adornd with flowrs,
To shady trees, to closely-weaving bowrs,
To bubbling fountains, & aside ye stream
That softly gliding soothes a waking dream,
Or bears ye thought inspird with heat along,
& with fair images improves a song.
Through sacred Anthems so may Fancy range
So still from beauty still to beauty change
So feel delights in all the radiant way,
& with sweet numbers what it feeles repay.
For this I call that Ancient Time appear
& bring his rolls to serve in method here,
His rolls which acts that endless honour claim,
Have rankd in order for ye voice of Fame.
My call is favourd, Time fm first to last
Unwinds his years, the Present sees ye Past,
I view their circles as he turns ym o're,
& fix my footsteps where he went before.
The Page unfolding woud atop disclose
Where sounds melodious in their birth arose;
Where first the Morning starrs together sung;
Where first their harps the Sons of Glory strung
With Shouts of Joy, while Halelujahs rise
To prove the Chorus of Eternall skys.
Rich sparkling strokes the letters Doubly gild,
& all's with Love & admiration filld.
