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S. MARIA MAIOR.

Dilectus meus mihi, et ego illi, qui pascitur inter lilia. Cant. ii.

THE HIMN, O GLORIOSA DOMINA.'

HAIL, most high, most humble one!

Aboue the world, below thy Son;

Whose blush the moon beauteously marres

And staines the timerous light of stares.

He that made all things, had not done

Till He had made Himself thy Son:

The whole World's host would be thy guest
And board Himself at thy rich brest.

O boundles hospitality!

The Feast of all things feeds on thee.
The first Eue, mother of our Fall,
E're she bore any one, slew all.
Of her vnkind gift might we haue
Th' inheritance of a hasty grave:
Quick-burye'd in the wanton tomb

Of one forbidden bitt;

Had not a better frvit forbidden it.

Had not thy healthfull womb

5

10

15

1 Appeared originally in Steps' of 1648 (pp. 109-110): reprinted 1652 (pp. 79-80) and 1670 (pp. 194-5). Our text is that of 1652, as before, and its engraving here is reproduced in our illustrated quarto edition in two forms (one hitherto unknown) from the Bodleian copy. G.

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The World's new eastern window bin.
And giuen vs heau'n again, in giuing Him.
Thine was the rosy dawn, that spring the Day
Which renders all the starres she stole away.

Let then the agid World be wise, and all

Proue nobly here vnnaturall;

'Tis gratitude to forgett that other

And call the maiden Eue their mother.

Yee redeem'd nations farr and near,

Applaud your happy selues in her;

(All you to whom this loue belongs)

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And keep't aliue with lasting songs.

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Let hearts and lippes speak lowd; and say

Hail, door of life and sourse of Day!

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same to Thee, sweet Spirit be done;

As euer shall be, was, and is. Amen.

40

NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

The heading in 1618 is simply The Virgin-Mother: in

1670 it is The Hymn, O Gloriosa Domina.`

Line 2, 1618 reads the Son.

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10, our text (1652) misprints the for thee."

Line 21, I follow here the text of 1648. 1652 reads
Thine was the rosy dawn that sprung the day.'

and this is repeated in 1670 and, of course, by TURNBULL.
Line 26, 1648 has your' for 'their.'

35 is inadvertently dropped in our text (1652), though the succeeding line (with which it rhymes) appears. I restore it. 1670 also drops it; and so again TURNBULL!

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Lines 43-44, Because some foolish fly.' This metaphorical allusion to the Fall and its results (as described by MILTON and others) is founded on the dying of various insects after begetting their kind. G.

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Vain shadow; that dost vanish quite

Both at full noon and perfect night!

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The starres haue not a possibility

Of blessing thee.

If thinges then from their end we happy call, 'Tis Hope is the most hopelesse thing of all.

Hope, thou bold taster of delight!

Who in stead of doing so, deuourst it quite.

10

1 Appeared first in 'Steps' of 1646 (pp. 96-9): reprinted in 1648 (pp. 111-113), 1652 (pp. 128-131), and 1670 (pp. 74-77). Our text is that of 1652, as before; with the exception of better readings from 1646, as noted below. See our Memorial Introduction and Essay for notices of the friendship of Cowley and Crashaw. G.

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In heading in 10 is simply The Virgin-Mother: in 1670 it is The Hymn, O Gorios Domina.'

Line 2, 1618 reads the Son.

10, om text 1652 misprints the for thee."

Line 21, I follow here the text of 1648. 1652 reads
Thine was the rosy dawn that sprung the day.'

and this is repeated in 1670 and, of course, by TURNBULL.
Line 26, 1648 has your' for 'their.'

35 is inadvertently dropped in our text (1652), though the succeeding line (with which it rhymes) appears. I restore it. 1670 also drops it; and so again TURNBULL!

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Lines 43-44, Because some foolish fly.' This metaphorical allusion to the Fall and its results (as described by MILTON and others) is founded on the dying of various insects after begetting their kind. G.

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If thinges then from their end we happy call, 'Tis Hope is the most hopelesse thing of all.

Hope, thou bold taster of delight!
Who in stead of doing so, deuourst it quite.

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1 Appeared first in 'Steps' of 1646 (pp. 96-9): reprinted in 1648 (pp. 111-113), 1652 (pp. 128-131), and 1670 (pp. 74-77). Our text is that of 1652, as before; with the exception of better readings from 1646, as noted below. See our Memorial Introduction and Essay for notices of the friendship of Cowley and Crashaw. G.

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