Who fill'd with unexhaufted fire, O DE ΤΟ EVENING, BY THE SAME. I. AIL meek-ey'd Maiden, clad in fober grey, HA loves; As homeward bent to kiss his prattling babes, II. When Phæbus finks behind the gilded hills, III. The panting Dryads, that in day's fierce heat IV. To the deep wood the clamourous rooks repair, Light fkims the swallow o'er the watry scene; And from the sheep-cote, and fresh furrow'd-field, Stout ploughmen meet, to wrestle on the Green. v. The fwain, that artlefs fings on yonder rock, Now every Paffion fleeps: defponding Love, O modeft EVENING! oft let me appear ODE ΤΟ EVENING. BY MR. WILLIAM COLLINS. I Fought of oaten stop, or paftoral song, May hope, chafte Eve, to footh thy modeft ear, Thy fprings, and dying gales, O Nymph referv'd, while now the bright-hair'd fun O'erhang his wavy bed: Nor air is hufh'd, fave where the weak-ey'd bat, With fhort fhrill fhriek flits by on leathern wing, Or where the beetle winds His fmall but fullen horn, As oft he rifes 'midft the twilight path, Now teach me, Maid compos'd, To breath fome foften'd ftrain, Whose numbers stealing thro' thy dark'ning vale, May not unfeemly with it's ftillnefs fuit, Thy genial lov'd return! For when thy folding ftar arifing fhews His paly circlet, at his warning lamp The fragrant Hours, and Elves Who flept in flow'rs the day, And many a Nymph who wreaths her brows with fedge, And sheds the fresh'ning dew, and lovelier ftill, The Penfive Pleafures fweet Prepare thy fhadowy car. Then lead, calm Vot'refs, where fome sheety lake Cheers the lone heath, or fome time-hallow'd pile, Or up-land fallows grey Reflect it's laft cool gleam. But when chill bluft'ring winds, or driving rain, Forbid my willing feet; be mine the hut, That from the mountain's fide, Views wilds, and fwelling floods, And hamlets brown, and dim-discover'd spires, The gradual dusky veil. While fpring fhall pour his show'rs, as oft he wont, And bathe thy breathing treffes, meekest Eve! |