Poems to Thespia To Which are Added, Sonnets, &c. [by Hugh Downman] |
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| III. | III.
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| XVIII. |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
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| XXV. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
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| III. |
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
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| XIV. |
| XV. |
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| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
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 | Poems to Thespia |  |
9
III.
[In nothing was I learn'd, but only how]
In nothing was I learn'd, but only how
To pen my flocks, and drive them to the field,
In the strait furrow to direct my plough,
And when my hoe and pruning-hook to wield.
To pen my flocks, and drive them to the field,
In the strait furrow to direct my plough,
And when my hoe and pruning-hook to wield.
Uncultivated was my mind, and mean,
My abject thoughts low fasten'd to the earth,
Till Love with hand benign brake custom's chain,
And bade me soar beyond my humble birth.
My abject thoughts low fasten'd to the earth,
Till Love with hand benign brake custom's chain,
And bade me soar beyond my humble birth.
With beauty fired, I look'd around, and saw
The charms of nature never seen before.
O Love! a willing vassal to thy law
I bend, I feel thy blessings, and adore.
The charms of nature never seen before.
O Love! a willing vassal to thy law
I bend, I feel thy blessings, and adore.
Prompted by thee, as yet with trembling tongue,
I call'd the muses, and desired their aid;
My wood-notes in the hazel copse I sung,
And caught the attention of the listening maid.
I call'd the muses, and desired their aid;
My wood-notes in the hazel copse I sung,
And caught the attention of the listening maid.
10
She listen'd to my strains, She heard my tale,
While deepening blushes o'er her cheeks arise,
The soft consenting sigh my lips inhale,
I see the yielding languor of her eyes.
While deepening blushes o'er her cheeks arise,
The soft consenting sigh my lips inhale,
I see the yielding languor of her eyes.
No, witness Truth! if ever I estrange
This grateful heart, which only beats for thee—
Why utter needless vows? I cannot change;
Fix'd are my bonds, nor will I e'er be free.
This grateful heart, which only beats for thee—
Why utter needless vows? I cannot change;
Fix'd are my bonds, nor will I e'er be free.
Fix'd is thy gentle sway; by thee my mind
Avarice, and all its sordid acts disdains;
The common vice of passion unrefined,
The common vice among our country swains.
Avarice, and all its sordid acts disdains;
The common vice of passion unrefined,
The common vice among our country swains.
Hence stinging cares; hence groveling they behold
The state of riches with an envious eye;
They think not aught beyond the power of gold,
Nor know how Love can lift the soul on high.
The state of riches with an envious eye;
They think not aught beyond the power of gold,
Nor know how Love can lift the soul on high.
11
Oh, come my Fair One! I have thatch'd above,
And whiten'd all around my little cot,
Shorn are the hedges leading to the grove,
Nor is the seat, and willow bower forgot.
And whiten'd all around my little cot,
Shorn are the hedges leading to the grove,
Nor is the seat, and willow bower forgot.
Low is the path of life in which I move,
Yet wilt thou not regret the higher sphere
Of wealth and noisy pride; while faithful love,
And innocence, and sweet content are here.
Yet wilt thou not regret the higher sphere
Of wealth and noisy pride; while faithful love,
And innocence, and sweet content are here.
| Poems to Thespia | |