Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav'ns joy,
John Milton
A Masque Presented At Ludlow Castle, 1634, Before
How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth,
METHOUGHT I saw my late espoused Saint
When Faith and Love, which parted from thee never,
Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit
High on a throne of royal state, which far
Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn,
O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw
No more of talk where God or Angel guest
Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime
All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,
Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name
The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear
Mean while the heinous and despiteful act
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
As one who in his journey bates at noon,
I, who erewhile the happy Garden sung
Perplexed and troubled at his bad success
Meanwhile the new-baptized, who yet remained
So spake the Son of God; and Satan stood
Of that sort of Dramatic Poem which is call'd Tragedy.
Now the bright morning Star, Dayes harbinger,
To Mr. H. Lawes, on his Aires.
Ere-while of Musick, and Ethereal mirth,