Ode to the Queen

Sound forth celestial organs, let heaven's quite
Ravish the dancing orbs, make them mount higher
With nimble capers, and force Atlas tread
Upon his tip-toes,
Ere his silver head
Shall kiss his golden burden.
Thou, glad Isle,
That swimmst as deep in joys as seas, now smile;
Let not thy weight glories, this full tide
Of bliss, debase thee, but with a just pride
Swell, swell to such a height that thou may'st vie
With heaven itself for stately majesty.
Do not deceive me, eyes; do I not see
In this blest earth heaven's bright epitome,
Circled with pure refined glory?
Here I view a rising sun in this our sphere,
Whose blazing beams, maugre the blackest night
And mists of grief, dares force a joyful light.
The gold in which he flames does well presage
A precious season and a golden age.
Shine forth, ye flaming sparks of
Deity, ye perfect emblems of divinity;
Fix'd in your spheres of glory, shed from thence
The treasures of our lives, your influence:
For if you set, who may not justly fear
The world will be one ocean, one great tear?

Fair as unshaded light, or as the day
In its first birth, when all the year was May;
Sweet as the altar's smoke, or as the new
Unfolded bud, swelled by the early dew;
Smooth as the face of waters first appeared,
Ere rides began to strive or winds were heard;
Kind as the willing saints, and calmer far
Than in their sleeps forgiven hermits are:
You, that are more than our discreeter fear
Dares praise, with such full art what makes you here?
Here, where the summer is so little seen,
That leaves (her cheapest wealth) scarce reach at green;
You come, as if the silver planet were
Misled awhile from her much injured sphere,
And t'ease the travails of her beams tonight,
In this small lantern would contract her light.

Yet once again, let us our measures move;
And with sweet notes record our joyful love.
An object more divine none ever had:
Then with a dance triumphant let us sing.
Her high advanced praise;
And ev'n to heaven our gladsome welcome
With wings of music raise;
Yet once again, let us our measures move
And with sweet notes record our joyful love.
An object more divine none ever had:
Welcome, O welcome, ever-honoured Queen,
To this now blessed place.