第2章 1
DEscend from Heavn Urania, by that name
If rightly thou art calld, whose Voice divine
Following, above th Olympian Hill I soare,
Above the flight of Pegasean wing.
The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou [ 5 ]
Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top
Of old Olympus dwellst, but Heavnlie borne,
Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flowd,
Thou with Eternal Wisdom didst converse,
Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play [ 10 ]
In presence of th Almightie Father, pleasd
With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee
Into the Heavn of Heavns I have presumd,
An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,
Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down [ 15 ]
Return me to my Native Element:
Least from this flying Steed unreind, (as once
Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime)
Dismounted, on th Aleian Field I fall
Erroneous there to wander and forlorne. [ 20 ]
Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound
Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;
Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,
More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchangd
To hoarce or mute, though falln on evil dayes, [ 25 ]
On evil dayes though falln, and evil tongues;
In darkness, and with dangers compast round,
And solitude; yet not alone, while thou
Visitst my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn
Purples the East: still govern thou my Song, [ 30 ]
Urania, and fit audience find, though few.
But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance
Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race
Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard
In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares [ 35 ]
To rapture, till the savage clamor dround
Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend
Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:
For thou art Heavnlie, shee an empty dreame.