Through the dear might of Him that walked the waves, Where, other groves and other streams along, With nectar pure his oozy locks he laves, 175 And hears the unexpressive nuptial song, In the blest kingdoms meek of joy and love. There entertain him all the saints above In solemn troops and sweet societies, That sing and, singing, in their glory move, 180 And wipe the tears for ever from his eyes. Now, Lycidas, the shepherds weep no more; Henceforth thou art the Genius of the shore, In thy large recompense, and shalt be good To all that wander in that perilous flood. 185 Thus sang the uncouth swain to the oaks and rills, While the still Morn went out with sandals gray; He touched the tender stops of various quills, With eager thought warbling his Doric lay: And now the sun had stretched out all the hills, 190 And now was dropt into the western bay; At last he rose, and twitched his mantle blue; To-morrow to fresh woods and pastures new. _John Milton._ CXXVI _THE CHRISTIAN’S REPLY TO THE PHILOSOPHER._ The good in graves as heavenly seed are sown; And at the saints’ first spring, the general doom, Will rise, not by degrees, but fully blown; When all the angels to their harvest come. Cannot Almighty Heaven (since flowers which pass 5 Thawed through a still, and there melt mingled too, Are raised distinct in a poor chymist’s glass) Do more in graves than men in limbecs do? God bred the arts, to make us more believe (By seeking nature’s covered mysteries,) 10 His darker works, that faith may thence conceive He can do more than what our reason sees. O coward faith! religion’s trembling guide! Whom ev’n the dim-eyed arts must lead to see What nature only from our sloth does hide, 15 Causes remote, which faith’s dark dangers be. Religion, ere imposed, should first be taught; Not seem to dull obedience ready laid, Then swallowed straight for ease, but long be sought; And be by reason counselled, though not swayed. 20 God has enough to human kind disclosed; Our fleshly garments He a while received, And walked as if the Godhead were deposed, Yet could be then but by a few believed. The faithless Jews will this at doom confess, 25 Who did suspect Him for his low disguise: But, if He could have made his virtue less, He had been more familiar to their eyes. Frail life! in which, through mists of human breath We grope for truth, and make our progress slow, 30 Because by passion blinded; till, by death Our passions ending, we begin to know.