I. ODE ON THE SPRING. Lo! where the rosy-bosom'd Hours, The untaught harmony of spring: Where'er the oak's thick branches stretch Where'er the rude and moss-grown beech 1 Beside some water's rushy brink With me the Muse shall sit, and think (At ease reclin'd in rustic state) How vain the ardour of the Crowd, O'ercanopied with luscious woodbine. Shakesp. Mids. Night's Dream. And they that creep, and they that fly, Alike the Busy and the Gay But flutter thro' life's little day, In fortune's varying colours drest : Brush'd by the hand of rough Mischance, Or chill'd by age, their airy dance Methinks I hear in accents low The sportive kind reply: Poor moralist! and what art thou? 25 30 35 40 Shew to the sun their waved coats drop'd with gold. 3 While insects from the threshold preach, etc. Grotto. Dodsley's Miscellanies, Vol. V. p. 161. M. Green, in the Of WINDSOR'S heights th' expanse below Of grove, of lawn, of mead survey, Whose turf, whose shade, whose flowers among Wanders the hoary Thames along His silver-winding way. Ah happy hills, ah pleasing shade, Ah fields belov'd in vain, Where once my careless childhood stray'd, A stranger yet to pain! I feel the gales, that from ye blow, A momentary bliss bestow, As waving fresh their gladsome wing, 1 King Henry the Sixth, Founder of the College. Dryden's Fable on the Pythag. System. 20 15 IO 50 Say, Father THAMES, for thou hast seen Full many a sprightly race Disporting on thy margent green The paths of pleasure trace, The captive linnet which enthrall? To chase the rolling circle's speed, While some on earnest business bent 'Gainst graver hours, that bring constraint To sweeten liberty: Some bold adventurers disdain The limits of their little reign, And unknown regions dare descry: Still as they run they look behind, Gay hope is theirs by fancy fed, The sunshine of the breast: And lively chear of vigour born; The thoughtless day, the easy night, The spirits pure, the slumbers light, That fly th' approach of morn. 40 45 50 |