With foliage of fuch dark redundant growth, From fuch unpleasing sounds as haunt the ear Inceffant, clinking hammers, grinding wheels, Its elevated fcite forbids the wretch To drink fweet waters of the crystal well; And heavy-laden brings his bev'rage home, Far-fetch'd and little worth; nor feldom waits, Dependent on the baker's punctual call, To hear his creaking panniers at the door, Angry Angry and fad, and his last crust confum'd. So farewel envy of the peasant's neft. Not distant far, a length of colonade * John Courtney Throckmorton, Efq. of Weston Underwood. These These chefnuts rang'd in corresponding lines, And though himself so polish'd, ftill reprieves The obfolete prolixity of shade. Defcending now (but cautious, left too fast) A fudden steep, upon a rustic bridge We pass a gulph, in which the willows dip Their pendent boughs, ftooping as if to drink. Hence, ancle-deep in mofs and flow'ry thyme, We mount again, and feel at ev'ry step Our foot half funk in hillocks green Rais'd by the mole, the miner of the foil. He, not unlike the great ones of mankind, Disfigures earth, and, plotting in the dark, Toils much to earn a monumental pile, That may record the mischiefs he has done. and foft, The fummit gain'd, behold the proud alcove That crowns it! yet not all its pride fecures The grand retreat from injuries imprefs'd By rural carvers, who with knives defacé The pannels, leaving an obfcure, rude name, Beats in the breaft of man, that ev'n a few And even to a clown. Now roves the eye, Exults in its command. The sheep-fold here Each to his choice, foon whiten all the land. The loaded wain, while, lighten'd of its charge, The boorish driver leaning o'er his team Nor lefs attractive is the woodland fcene, Diverfified Diversify'd with trees of ev'ry growth, Alike, yet various. Here the grey fmooth trunks Diffufing odors: nor unnoted pafs The fycamore, capricious in attire, Now green, now tawny, and, ere autumn yet Have chang'd the woods, in scarlet honors bright. VOL. II. C O'er |