Classic Poem

ODE XVI

1

Now faire and Cleare; the Heavens are pleas'd to Smile;
The purged Ayre doth rise
Full, in her Balme and Spice;
Spiknard and Cassia breath, to reconcile
Opposed Elements; Aurora faire
Spreads all the Treasure of her haire,
T'envite the Active Phebus more away,
And glad the Creatures, in a well-come day.

2

The night is fled; and Dayes best Chorister
Kickes his feild-Bed with Scorne;
In livelie Rapture, borne
To those Etheriall Courts of wonder; where
His Liricke notes, left fyled,
Preserved are, unsoyled;
The Royall Eagle, in the welkin towers,
And for his prey, with mightie pineon Scowers.

3

The manly Cocke, has long his Bugle Shrilled;
And thriftie villagers
Have long since shaked their Ears;
Each busie, in the Labour he is Skill'd;
Their frugall wives Assay
The offices of Day.
The night-pent flockes unbound, spread ore the Hills,
And Coridon, their Swaine, his loud Pipe Shrills.

4

Only I slug it: with a careles Head;
And my free Genius Steepe,
In the wide Gulph, of Sleep;
And loose my Spirrits in a tempting Bed;
My Limbes, unapt to use,
And all my Joyes, my Muse
Forgot in Slumbers; and my heavie Eyes,
Invite fresh Dreames: I have noe will to rise.

5

Yet, let not vertue leave me: I will Shake
Those fetters into Ayre:
And my quicke Thought prepare,
For free and active Rapture; I will make
Rich nature open All
Her treasures, which shall fall
A harvest, to enrich my sober Quill:
And purged Ears, with gratefull Accents fill.

6

Forsake me, you Dull ministers of Sleepe,
And let me Raise my Quill,
To Court th' Olimpicke Hill
With Earlie praises; and Survay the Heape
Of natures bounties; then
If I (soe bold) may Pen
Something to praise Him, whom I most admire,
My God, my Glorie, I have my Desire.