Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE AUTHOR OF BRITANNIA'S PEERLESS PASTORALS, by JOHN DYNHAM



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE AUTHOR OF BRITANNIA'S PEERLESS PASTORALS, by                    
First Line: Cease, skilful orpheus, whose mellifluous strains
Last Line: Thou sing'st britannia's praise, britannia thine.
Subject(s): Browne, William (1591-1645)


CEASE, skilful Orpheus, whose mellifluous strains
Have erst made stones and trees skip o'er the plains;
A sweeter harmony invites our ears
Than e'er was sent from the celestial spheres.
Clear Tavy now his silver head may raise,
A shepherd of his own can sing his praise.
Sweet-tongu'd Arion, strive not with such odds,
Thy song mov'd but the dolphins: his the gods.
O hadst thou deign'd to move thy sweeter tongue,
The wolf had stay'd to hearken to thy song;
Had Pan's ears suck'd the nectar of thy breath,
For thy sake Cælia had been free from death,
But that the Fates denied, as who should say
By Willy's pen her fame shall live for aye.
Walla a garland will compose no more
To crown her Tavy's temples as before;
But as to them that best deserve the praise,
She'll give to thee the garland and the bays;
And if a verse thy glory may confine,
Thou sing'st Britannia's praise, Britannia thine.





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