 | Poems on different occasions |  |
59
ODE III.
[O travellers! who shall chance to stray]
O travellers! who shall chance to stray,
Where thro' this wood the fountain glides,
Deride ye not the man I pray,
Who in these lonely shades abides.
Where thro' this wood the fountain glides,
Deride ye not the man I pray,
Who in these lonely shades abides.
Haply more gay scenes ye admire,
The splendid court, the crouded town,
Haply to greatness ye aspire,
With fame's fair wreaths your brows to crown.
The splendid court, the crouded town,
Haply to greatness ye aspire,
With fame's fair wreaths your brows to crown.
Yet may ye not uncourteous blame,
Or scorn, as thro' these walks ye haste,
The hermit shunning state and fame,
Who loves in woods his days to waste.
Or scorn, as thro' these walks ye haste,
The hermit shunning state and fame,
Who loves in woods his days to waste.
60
O! rather, if your feet his banks,
Or if your taste his fruits delight,
O! rather, strangers, with due thanks,
And wishes meet his gifts requite.
Or if your taste his fruits delight,
O! rather, strangers, with due thanks,
And wishes meet his gifts requite.
Pray that the noxious blasts impure
His plants and tender flowers may spare,
That his green vine may shoot secure,
With clusters to reward his care.
His plants and tender flowers may spare,
That his green vine may shoot secure,
With clusters to reward his care.
Pray that the murmuring spring, whose streams
His thirst allay, may still be clear,
That the smooth banks where oft he dreams
Soft moss may cover thro' the year.
His thirst allay, may still be clear,
That the smooth banks where oft he dreams
Soft moss may cover thro' the year.
So shall he pray, that not in vain
Ye may aspire to state or power,
That ye Fame's brightest palms may gain,
That kings on you their gifts may shower.
Ye may aspire to state or power,
That ye Fame's brightest palms may gain,
That kings on you their gifts may shower.
61
So shall he pray amidst the show
Of courts, or cities where ye dwell,
That ye that calm delight may know,
Which visits him in his lone cell.
Of courts, or cities where ye dwell,
That ye that calm delight may know,
Which visits him in his lone cell.
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