< Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu
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JOHN MILTON

Only with speeches fair She woo's the gentle Air

To hide her guilty front with innocent Snow, And on her naked shame, Pollute with sinfull blame,

The Saintly Vail of Maiden white to throw, Confounded, that her Makers eyes Should look so neer upon her foul deformities.

But he her fears to cease, Sent down the meek-eyd Peace,

She crown'd with Olive green, came softly sliding Down through the turning sphear His ready Harbinger,

With Turtle wing the amorous clouds dividing, And waving wide her mirtle wand, She strikes a universall Peace through Sea and Land.

No War, or Battails sound Was heard the World around,

The idle spear and shield were high up hung ; The hooked Chariot stood Unstain'd with hostile blood,

The Trumpet spake not to the armed throng, And Kings sate still with awful! eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by.

But peacefull was the night Wherin the Prince of light

His raign of peace upon the earth began : The Windes with wonder whist, Smoothly the waters kist,

Whispering new joyes to the milde Ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave, While Birds of Calm sit brooding on the charmed wave.

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