WHAT means this stately tablature, The balance of thy strains, Which seems, instead of sifting pure, T' extend and rack thy veins? Thy odes first their own harmony did break, For singing troth is but in tune to speak. Nor thus thy golden feet and wings, May it be thought false melody T' ascend to heav'n by silver strings, This is Urania's heraldry: Thy royal poem now we may extol, And truly Luna blazon'd upon Sol. As when Amphion first did call Each list'ning stone from 's den, And with the lute did form his wall, But with his words the men; So, in your twisted numbers now, you thus Not only stocks persuade, but ravish us. Thus do your airs echo o'er The notes and anthems of the spheres, And their whole consort back restore, As if Earth too would bless Heav'n's ears: But yet the spokes, by which they scal'd so high, Gamble hath wisely laid of @3ut re mi.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A SENSE OF DIRECTION by KAREN SWENSON THE FRIENDLY WOOD by PAUL VALERY COMRADE JESUS by SARAH NORCLIFFE CLEGHORN SONNET: 14. ON THE RELIGIOUS MEMORY OF CATHERINE THOMASON by JOHN MILTON SONNET: 22. TO THE SAME [CYRIACK SKINNER] by JOHN MILTON THE MEDITATION OF THE OLD FISHERMAN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS THE SECOND DAYES LAMENTATION OF THE AFFECTIONATE SHEPHEARD by RICHARD BARNFIELD |