Grots, statues, urns, and Jo-n's dog and bitch : Ne village is without, on either side,
All up the silver Thames, or all adown;
Ne Richmond's self, from whose tall front are eyed
Vales, spires, meandering streams, and Windsor's towery pride.
ON A LADY SINGING TO HER LUTE.
FAIR charmer, cease! nor make your voice's prize,
A heart, resign'd, the conquest of your eyes:
Well might, alas! that threaten'd vessel fail,
Which winds and lightning both at once assail.
We were too bless'd with these enchanting lays, 5
Which must be heavenly when an angel plays:
But killing charms your lover's death contrive,
Lest heavenly music should be heard alive.
Orpheus could charm the trees; but thus a tree,
Taught by your hand, can charm no less than
A poet made the silent wood pursue :
This vocal wood had drawn the poet too.
Of the Author's design, in which was painted the story of Cephalus and Procris, with the motto-Aura, Veni.
• COME, gentle air!' the Eolian shepherd said,
While Procris panted in the secret shade :
Come, gentle air!' the fairer Delia cries,
While at her feet her swain expiring lies.
Lo, the glad gales o'er all her beauties stray,
Breathe on her lips, and in her bosom play!
In Delia's hand this toy is fatal found,
Nor could that fabled dart more surely wound:
Both gifts destructive to the givers prove;
Alike both lovers fall by those they love.
Yet guiltless too this bright destroyer lives;
At random wounds, nor knows the wound she
She views the story with attentive eyes;
And pities Procris, while her lover dies.
FAIN would my Muse the flowery treasures sing,
And humble glories of the youthful spring;
Where opening roses breathing sweets diffuse,
And soft carnations shower their balmy dews;
Where lilies smile in virgin robes of white,
The thin undress of superficial light;
And varied tulips show so dazzling gay,
Blushing in bright diversities of day.
Each painted floweret in the lake below
Surveys its beauties, whence its beauties grow; 10
And pale Narcissus on the bank, in vain
Transformed, gazes on himself again.
Here aged trees cathedral walks compose,
And mount the hill in venerable rows:
There the green infants in their beds are laid, 15
The garden's hope, and its expected shade:
Here orange-trees with blooms and pendents
shine,
And vernal honors to their autumn join;
Exceed their promise in the ripen'd store,
Yet in the rising blossom promise more :
There in bright drops the crystal fountains play,
By laurels shielded from the piercing day;
Where Daphne, now a tree as once a maid,
Still from Apollo vindicates her shade;
Still turns her beauties from the invading beam,
Nor seeks in vain for succor to the stream.
The stream at once preserves her virgin leaves,
At once a shelter from her boughs receives;
Where summer's beauty midst of winter stays,
And winter's coolness spite of summer's rays.
WHILE Celia's tears make sorrow bright,
Proud grief sits swelling in her eyes :
The sun, next those the fairest light,
Thus from the ocean first did rise;
And thus through mists we see the sun,
Which else we durst not gaze upon.
These silver drops, like morning dew,
Foretell the fervor of the day:
So from one cloud soft showers we view,
And blasting lightnings burst away.
The stars that fall from Celia's eye,
Declare our doom in drawing nigh.
The baby in that sunny sphere
So like a Phaëton appears,
That Heaven, the threaten'd world to spare,
Thought fit to drown him in her tears:
Else might the ambitious nymph aspire,
To set, like him, heaven too on fire.
SILENCE! Coeval with eternity;
Thou wert, ere Nature's self began to be: 'Twas one vast nothing, all, and all slept fast in thee.
Thine was the sway, ere heaven was form'd or earth;
Ere fruitful Thought conceived creation's birth, Or midwife Word gave aid, and spoke the infant forth.
Then various elements, against thee join'd,
In one more various animal combined, And framed the clamorous race of busy humankind.
The tongue moved gently first, and speech was low,
Till wrangling science taught it noise and show; And wicked wit arose, thy most abusive foe.
But rebel wit deserts thee oft in vain :
Lost in the maze of words, he turns again, And seeks a surer state, and courts thy gentle reign.
Afflicted sense thou kindly dost set free,
Oppress'd with argumental tyranny;
And routed reason finds a safe retreat in thee.
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