| |
| BLEST pair of Sirens, pledges of Heaven’s joy, | |
| Sphere-born harmonious Sisters, Voice and Verse, | |
| Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ, | |
| Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce; | |
| And to our high-raised phantasy present | 5 |
| That undisturbèd Song of pure consent, | |
| Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured Throne | |
| To Him that sits thereon, | |
| With saintly shout and solemn jubily; | |
| Where the bright Seraphim in burning row | 10 |
| Their loud uplifted angel trumpets blow, | |
| And the Cherubic 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 disproportioned Sin | |
| Jarred against Nature’s chime, and with harsh din | 20 |
| Broke the fair music that all creatures made | |
| To their great Lord, whose love their motions swayed | |
| 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 Heaven, till God ere long | |
| To his celestial consort us unite, | |
| To live with Him, and sing in endless morn of light! | |
| |
