ASTRAEA

But when they have enjoyed a while, The ages quickening power: What change is here! I had not more Desire to leave the earth before, Then I have now, to stay; My silver feet, Like roots, are wreathed Into the ground, my wings are sheathed, And I cannot away. Of all there seems a second birth, It is become a heaven on earth, And Jove is present here, I feel the Godhead: nor will doubt But he can fill the place throughout, Whose power is every where. This, this, and only such as this, The bright Astraea's region is, Where she would pray to live, And in the midst of so much gold, Unbought with grace or fear unsold The law to mortals give. It's now enough, behold you here, What JOVE hath built to be your sphere, You hither must retire. And as his bounty gives you cause, Be ready still without your pause To show the world your fire. Like lights about ASTRAEA'S throne, You here must shine, and all be one, In fervor and in flame. That by your union she may grow, And, you sustaining her, may know, The age still by her name. Who vows, against, or heat or cold, To spin you garments of her gold, That want may touch you never, And making garlands every hour, To write your names in some new flower, That you may live for ever. Will JOVE such pledges to the earth restore As justice? And will of grace receive it, not as endue? True. Now peace. faith.