Classic Poem

XI.

Faith led the Van, her Mantle dipt in Blue,
Steady her Ken, and gaining on the Skies;
Obedient Miracles around her flew:
She pray'd, and Heav'n burst open on her Eyes,
And golden Valves roll'd back in wond'rous Wise:
And now some Hill, with all its shaggy Load
Of Trees and Flocks, unto the Ocean hies:
Now Wings of Cherubs, flaming all abroad,
Careering on the Winds in Sight upbear their God.
XII.

Next Hope , the gayest Daughter of the Sky!
Her nectar-dewed Locks with Roses bound;
An Eden flourish'd where she cast her Eye,
And Flocks of Sports and Joys, their Temples crown'd,
Plum'd their bright Wings, and thump'd the hollow Ground.
Grief gladden'd, and forgot to drop a Tear
At her Approach; ne Sorrow mote be found,
Ne rueful-looking Drad, ne pale-ey'd Care;
And 'neath her Chariot Wheels she crush'd hell-black Despair.

XIII.

Then Charity full-zon'd, as her beseems,
Her Breasts were softer Ivory, her Hair
Play'd with the sunny Rays in amber Streams,
And floated wanton on the buxom Air;
As Mercy kind, as Hope divinely fair.
Her Soul was Flame, and with prolific Rays
The Nations warm'd, all-bright withouten Glare.
Both Men and Angels, as she passes, gaze,
But chief the Poor, the Lame, the Blind, the Naked, praise.

XIV.

The Train of Virtues next, a dainty Train!
Advance their Steps, sweet Daughters of Delight,
Awfully sweet, majestically plain!
Celestial Love , as E'yn of Seraphs bright,
And spotless as their Robes of new-spun Light.
Truth, simple as the love-sick Village-Maid;
Health-blooming Temperance, a comely Wight:
Humility, in homely Weeds array'd,
And by her, in a Line, an Asses-Colt she led.

XV.

But heark, the jolly Pipe, and rural Lay!
And see, the Shepherd clad in Mantle blue,
And Shepherdess in russet Kirtle gay,
Come dauncing on the Shepherd-Lord to view,
And pay, in decent Wise, Obeysance due.
Sweet-smelling Flow'rs the gentle Votaries bring,
Primroses, Violets, wet with Morning-Dew,
The sweetest Incense of the early Spring;
A humble, yet, I weet, a grateful Offering.