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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  309. At a Solemn Musick

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

John Milton. 1608–1674

309. At a Solemn Musick

BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heav’ns joy, 
Sphear-born harmonious Sisters, Voice, and Vers, 
Wed your divine sounds, and mixt power employ 
Dead things with inbreath’d sense able to pierce, 
And to our high-rais’d phantasie present,         5
That undisturbèd Song of pure content, 
Ay sung before the saphire-colour’d throne 
To him that sits theron 
With Saintly shout, and solemn Jubily, 
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row  10
Their loud up-lifted Angel trumpets blow, 
And the Cherubick host in thousand quires 
Touch their immortal Harps of golden wires, 
With those just Spirits that wear victorious Palms, 
Hymns devout and holy Psalms  15
Singing everlastingly; 
That we on Earth with undiscording voice 
May rightly answer that melodious noise; 
As once we did, till disproportion’d sin 
Jarr’d against natures chime, and with harsh din  20
Broke the fair musick that all creatures made 
To their great Lord, whose love their motion sway’d 
In perfect Diapason, whilst they stood 
In first obedience, and their state of good. 
O may we soon again renew that Song,  25
And keep in tune with Heav’n, till God ere long 
To his celestial consort us unite, 
To live with him, and sing in endles morn of light.