The poetical works of Sir William Jones With the life of the author ... in two volumes |
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WRITTEN FOR A FETE CHAMPETRE IN WALES. |
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 | The poetical works of Sir William Jones |  |
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WRITTEN FOR A FETE CHAMPETRE IN WALES.
Fair Tivy, how sweet are thy waves gently flowing,
Thy wild oaken woods, and green eglantine bow'rs,
Thy banks with the blush-rose and amaranth glowing,
While friendship and mirth claim these labourless hours!
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure which prospects can give;
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
Thy wild oaken woods, and green eglantine bow'rs,
Thy banks with the blush-rose and amaranth glowing,
While friendship and mirth claim these labourless hours!
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure which prospects can give;
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
How sweet is the odour of jasmine and roses,
That Zephyr around us so lavishly flings!
Perhaps for Bleanpant fresh perfume he composes,
Or tidings from Bronwith auspiciously brings;
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure which odours can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
That Zephyr around us so lavishly flings!
Perhaps for Bleanpant fresh perfume he composes,
Or tidings from Bronwith auspiciously brings;
282
More sweet than the pleasure which odours can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
How sweet was the strain that enliven'd the spirit,
And cheer'd us with numbers so frolic and free;
The poet is absent: be just to his merit;
Ah! may he in love be more happy than we;
For weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure the muses can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
And cheer'd us with numbers so frolic and free;
The poet is absent: be just to his merit;
Ah! may he in love be more happy than we;
For weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure the muses can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
How gay is the circle of friends round a table,
Where stately Kilgarran o'erhangs the brown dale;
Where none are unwilling, and few are unable,
To sing a wild song, or repeat a wild tale!
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that friendship can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
Where stately Kilgarran o'erhangs the brown dale;
Where none are unwilling, and few are unable,
To sing a wild song, or repeat a wild tale!
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that friendship can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
No longer then pore over dark Gothic pages,
To cull a rude gibberish from Neatheam or Brooke;
Leave year-books and parchments to grey-bearded sages;
Be nature and love, and fair woman, our book:
For weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that learning can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
To cull a rude gibberish from Neatheam or Brooke;
Leave year-books and parchments to grey-bearded sages;
Be nature and love, and fair woman, our book:
283
More sweet than the pleasure that learning can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
Admit that our labours were crown'd with full measure,
And gold were the fruit of rhetorical flow'rs,
That India supplied us with long-hoarded treasure,
That Dinevor , Slebeck , and Coidsmore were ours;
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that riches can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
And gold were the fruit of rhetorical flow'rs,
That India supplied us with long-hoarded treasure,
That Dinevor , Slebeck , and Coidsmore were ours;
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that riches can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
Or say, that, preferring fair Thames to fair Tivy,
We gain'd the bright ermine robes, purple and red;
And peep'd thro' long perukes, like owlets thro' ivy,
Or say, that bright coronets blaz'd on our head;
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that honours can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
We gain'd the bright ermine robes, purple and red;
And peep'd thro' long perukes, like owlets thro' ivy,
Or say, that bright coronets blaz'd on our head;
Yet weak is our vaunt, while something we want,
More sweet than the pleasure that honours can give:
Come, smile, damsels of Cardigan,
Love can alone make it blissful to live.
| The poetical works of Sir William Jones | |