POSTHUMOUS POEMS AND

FRAGMENTS.

ODE ON THE PLEASURE ARISING FROM VICISSITUDE.

[Left unfinished by Gray. The additions by Mason are distinguished by inverted commas.]

Now the golden morn aloft

Waves her dew-bespangled wing,

With vermeil cheek and whisper soft

She wooes the tardy spring:
Till April starts, and calls around

The sleeping fragrance from the ground;
And lightly o'er the lively scene

Scatters his freshest tenderest green.

New-born flocks, in rustic dance,

Frisking ply their feeble feet;
Forgetful of their wintry trance,
The birds his presence greet:
But chief, the sky-lark warbles high
His trembling thrilling ecstasy:

And, lessening from the dazzled sight, Melts into air and liquid light.

Rise, my soul! on wings of fire,
Rise the rapt'rous choir among:
Hark! 'tis nature strikes the lyre,
And leads the genʼral song:
Warm let the lyric transport flow,
Warm as the ray that bids it glow;
And animates the vernal grove
With health, with harmony, and love.'

Yesterday the sullen year

Saw the snowy whirlwind fly;
Mute was the music of the air,
The herd stood drooping by:
Their raptures now that wildly flow,
No yesterday nor morrow know;
'Tis man alone that joy descries
With forward, and reverted eyes.

Smiles on past misfortune's brow

Soft reflection's hand can trace; And o'er the cheek of sorrow throw A melancholy grace;

While hope prolongs our happier hour, Or deepest shades, that dimly lower

And blacken round our weary way,
Gilds with a gleam of distant day.

Still where rosy pleasure leads,
See a kindred grief pursue;
Behind the steps that misery treads,
Approaching comfort view:

The hues of bliss more brightly glow,
Chastis'd by sabler tints of woe;
And blended form with artful strife,
The strength and harmony of life.

See the wretch that long has tost
On the thorny bed of pain,
At length repair his vigour lost,

And breathe and walk again:

The meanest floweret of the vale,
The simplest note that swells the gale,

The common sun, the air, the skies,
To him are opening paradise.

Humble quiet builds her cell,

Near the source whence pleasure flows;

She eyes the clear crystalline well,

And tastes it as it goes.

While' far below the madding' crowd

Rush headlong to the dangerous flood,'

Where broad and turbulent it sweeps,
And' perish in the boundless deeps.

Mark where indolence and pride,
• Sooth'd by flattery's tinkling sound,
Go, softly rolling, side by side,
Their dull but daily round:

To these, if Hebe's self should bring
The purest cup from pleasure's spring,
Say, can they taste the flavour high
Of sober, simple, genuine joy?

Mark ambition's march sublime
Up to power's meridian's height;
While pale-eyed envy sees him climb,
And sickens at the sight.
Phantoms of danger, death, and dread,
Float hourly round ambition's head;
While spleen within his rival's breast,
Sits brooding on her scorpion nest.

Happier he, the peasant, far,

From the pangs of passion free,

That breathes the keen yet wholesome air

Of rugged penury.

He, when his morning task is done,

Can slumber in the noontide sun;

And hie him home, at evening's close,
To sweet repast and calm repose.

He, unconscious whence the bliss,
Feels, and owns in carols rude,
That all the circling joys are his,
Of dear Vicissitude.

From toils he wins the spirits light,
From busy day the peaceful night;
Rich, from the very want of wealth,
In heaven's best treasures, peace and health.'

AGRIP. 'Tis well, begone! your errand is perform'd, [Speaks as to Anicetus entering The message needs no comment. Tell your master,