Or fleeps one colder in his clofe clay-bed Hither let Lux'ry lead her loofe-rob'd train, CONTENT, A PASTORAL. O'ER moorlands and mountains, rude, barren, and As wilder'd and weary'd I roam, A gentle young shepherdefs fees my despair, (bare, And leads me, o'er lawns, to her home. Yellow fheaves from rich Ceres her cottage had crown'd, Green rushes were ftrew'd on her floor, Her cafement fweet woodbines crept wantonly round, And deck'd the fod feats at her door. We fat ourselves down to a cooling repaft, Fresh fruits and fhe cull'd me the best; I told my foft wishes; the fweetly reply'd, Her air was fo modeft, her aspect so meek, I kifs'd the ripe roses that glow'd on her cheek, Now jocund together we tend a few sheep, cleep, Her image ftill foftens my dream. Together we range o'er the flow-rifing hills, Or reft on the rock whence the ftreamlet diftils, The cottager Peace is well known for her fire, LANGHORNE. THE VISIONS OF FANCY, IN FOUR ELEGIES. ELEGY I. CHILDREN of Fancy, wither are ye fled? Where have ye borne thofe hope-enliven'd hours, That once with myrtle garlands bound my head, That once beftrew'd my vernal path with flowers In yon fair vale, where blooms the beechen grove, Where winds the flow wave thro' the flowery plain, To thefe fond arms you led the tyrant Love, With Fear, and Hope, and Folly in his train. My lyre, that, left at carelefs diftance, hung And o'er my fleep the lulling mufic play'd. "Reft, gentle youth! while on the quivering breeze Slides to thine ear this foftly breathing ftrain; "Sounds that move smoother than the steps of ease, "And pour oblivion in the ear of pain. "In this fair vale eternal fpring shall smile, "And Time unenvious crown each rofeate hour; Eternal joy fhall every care beguile, "Breathe in each gale, and bloom in every flower. "This filver fream, that down its cryftal way, "Frequent has led my mufing fteps along, "Shall, fill the fame, in funny mazes play, "And with its murinurs melodife thy fong. Unfading green fhall thefe fair groves adorn; "Thole living meads immortal flowers unfold; "In rofy fmiles fhall rife each blushing morn, "And every evening clofe in clouds of gold. "The tender Loves that watch thy flumbering reft, "And round thee flowers and balmy myrtles ftrew, "Shall charm, thro' all approaching life, thy breaft, With joys for ever pure, for ever new. The genial power that speeds the golden dart, "Each charm of tender paflion fhall infpire; With fond affection fill the mutual heart, "And feed the flame of ever-young Defire. "Come, gentle Loves! your myrtle garlands bring; "The Imiling bower with clufter'd rofes fpread; "Come, gentle Airs! with incenfe-dropping wing, "The breathing fweets of vernal odour shed. "Hark, as the ftrains of fwelling mufic rife, "And powers unfeen the happy moments hail! "Extatic hours! fo every diftant day "Like this ferene on downy wings fhall move; "Rife crown'd with joys that triumph o'er decay, "The faithful joys of Fancy and of Love." AND ELEGY II. were they vain, thofe foothing lays ye fung! Children of Fancy! yes, your fong was vain; On each foft air though rapt Attention hung And Silence liften'd on the fleeping plain. The ftrains yet vibrate on my ravish'd ear, And till to fimile the mimic beauties feem, Though now the vifionary fcenes appear Like the faint traces of a vanish'd dream. Mirror of life! the glories thus depart Of all that Youth, and Love, and Fancy frame, When painful anguish speeds the piercing dart, Or Envy blafts the blooming flow'rs of Fame. Nurfe of wild wishes, and of fond defires, The prophetess of Fortune, falfe and vain, To fcenes where Peace in Ruin's arms expires Fallacious Hope deludes her hapless train. Go, Syren, go; thy charms on others try; My beaten bark at length has reach'd the shore: Yet on the rock my dropping garments lie; With calm Repose and Silence let me dwell. O bleit Infenfibility, be nigh, And with thy foothing hand my weary eyelids close. Then fhall the cares of Love and Glory cease, And all the fond anxieties of Fame; Alike regardlefs in the arms of Peace, If thefe extol or thofe debafe a name. In Lyttleton though all the mufes praise, His generous praife fhall then delight no more, Nor the fweet magic of his tender lays Shall touch the bofom which it charm'd before. Nor then, though Malice with infidious guife Nor then, though Envy broach her blackening lies, Oftate to be defir'd when hoftile rage Prevails in human more than favage haunts; When man with man eternal war will wage, And never yield that mercy which he wants. |