How swell'd immense! amid whose azure throned While, loose to festive joy, the country round Shook to the wind their cares. The toil-strung youth, 1215 1220 Leaps wildly graceful in the lively dance. 1225 Her every charm abroad, the village-toast, Young, buxom, warm, in native beauty rich, Darts not unmeaning looks; and, where her eye Points an approving smile, with double force The cudgel rattles, and the wrestler twines. 1230 Age too shines out, and garrulous recounts The feats of youth. Thus they rejoice, nor think That, with to-morrow's sun, their annual toil O, knew he but his happiness, of men The happiest he, who, far from public rage, Deep in the vale, with a choice few retired, 1235 Drinks the pure pleasures of the rural life! What, though the dome be wanting, whose proud gate, 1240 Vile intercourse! What, though the glittering robe- Of every hue reflected light can give, Or floating loose, or stiff with mazy gold, The pride and gaze of fools--oppress him not? 1245 What, though, from utmost land and sea purvey'd, Bleeds not, and his insatiate table heaps With luxury and death? What, though his bowl 1250 1255 AUTUMN. To disappointment and fallacious hope; 109 Rich in content, in Nature's bounty rich, In herbs and fruits; whatever greens the Spring 1260 When heaven descends in showers, or bends the bough When Summer reddens and when Autumn beams, Or in the wintry glebe whatever lies Conceal'd, and fattens with the richest sap, These are not wanting; nor the milky drove, 1265 Luxuriant, spread o'er all the lowing vale; Nor bleating mountains; nor the chide of streams, And hum of bees, inviting sleep sincere Into the guiltless breast, beneath the shade, Or thrown at large amid the fragrant hay; Calm Contemplation, and poetic Ease. Let others brave the flood in quest of gain, And beat, for joyless months, the gloomy wave. Rush into blood, the sack of cities seek, Unpierced, exulting in the widow's wail, The virgin's shriek, and infant's trembling cry. L 1270 1275 1280 1285 1290 1295 1300 At distance safe, the human tempest roar, To Nature's voice attends, from month to month. Abrupt and deep, stretch'd o'er the buried earth, A friend, a book, the stealing hours secure, O'er land and sea imagination roams; With swift wing, Or truth, divinely breaking on his mind, 1305 1310 1315 1320 1325 1330 1335 1340 The fond parental soul. Nor purpose gay, Amusement, dance, or song, he sternly scorns; 111 1345 For happiness and true philosophy Are of the social still and smiling kind. This is the life which those who fret in guilt And guilty cities never knew; the life Led by primeval ages, uncorrupt, 1350 When angels dwelt, and God himself, with man! Enrich me with the knowledge of thy works! Snatch me to heaven; thy rolling wonders there, A search the flight of time can ne'er exhaust! But if to that unequal, if the blood And whisper to my dreams. From Thee begin, 1355 1360 1365 1370 WINTER. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR SPENCER COMPTON. SIR, THE author of the following poem begs leave to inscribe this, his first performance, to your name and patronage: unknown himself, and only introduced by the Muse, he yet ventures to approach you, with a modest cheerfulness; for, whoever attempts to excel in any generous art, though he comes alone, and unregarded by the world, may hope for your notice and esteem. Happy if I can, in any degree, merit this good fortune: as every ornament and grace of polite learning is yours, your single approbation will be my fame. I dare not indulge my heart by dwelling on your public character; on that exalted honour and integrity which distinguish you in that august assembly where you preside, that unshaken loyalty to your sovereign, that disinterested concern for his people which shine out, united, in all your behaviour, and finish the patriot. I am conscious of my want of strength and skill for so delicate an undertaking; and yet, as the shepherd in his cottage may feel and acknowledge the influence of the sun with as lively a gratitude as the great man in his palace, even I may be allowed to publish my sense of those blessings which, from so many powerful virtues, are derived to the nation they adorn. |