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The Poems Of Mark Akenside

Akenside, Mark (1721-1770)

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THE PLEASURES OF IMAGINATION. A POEM. IN THREE BOOKS.
 1. 
BOOK THE FIRST.
 2. 
BOOK THE SECOND.
 3. 
BOOK THE THIRD.
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THE PLEASURES OF THE IMAGINATION: A POEM.
 1. 
BOOK THE FIRST.
 2. 
BOOK THE SECOND.
 3. 
BOOK THE THIRD.
 4. 
BOOK THE FOURTH.
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ODES ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS. IN TWO BOOKS.
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ODES, BOOK THE FIRST.
  
ODE I. PREFACE.
  
ODE II. ON THE WINTER-SOLSTICE,
  
ODE III. TO A FRIEND, UNSUCCESSFUL IN LOVE.
  
ODE IV. AFFECTED INDIFFERENCE. TO THE SAME.
  
ODE V. AGAINST SUSPICION.
  
ODE VI. HYMN TO CHEERFULNESS.
  
ODE VII. ON THE USE OF POETRY.
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ODE VIII. ON LEAVING HOLLAND.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
  
ODE IX. TO CURIO.
  
ODE X. TO THE MUSE.
  
ODE XI. ON LOVE, TO A FRIEND.
  
ODE XII. TO SIR FRANCIS HENRY DRAKE, BARONET.
  
ODE XIII. ON LYRIC POETRY.
  
ODE XIV. TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES TOWNSHEND:
  
ODE XV. TO THE EVENING-STAR.
  
ODE XVI. TO CALEB HARDINGE, M. D.
  
ODE XVII. ON A SERMON AGAINST GLORY.
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ODE XVIII. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS EARL OF HUNTINGDON.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
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ODES, BOOK THE SECOND.
  
ODE I. THE REMONSTRANCE OF SHAKESPEARE:
  
ODE II. TO SLEEP.
  
ODE III. TO THE CUCKOW.
  
ODE IV. TO THE HONOURABLE CHARLES TOWNSHEND IN THE COUNTRY.
  
ODE V. ON LOVE OF PRAISE.
  
ODE VI. TO WILLIAM HALL, ESQUIRE: WITH THE WORKS OF CHAULIEU.
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ODE VII. TO THE RIGHT REVEREND BENJAMIN LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
  
ODE VIII.
  
ODE IX. AT STUDY.
  
ODE X. TO THOMAS EDWARDS, ESQUIRE: ON THE LATE EDITION OF MR. POPE'S WORKS.
  
ODE XI. TO THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN OF ENGLAND.
  
ODE XII. ON RECOVERING FROM A FIT OF SICKNESS, IN THE COUNTRY.
  
ODE XIII. TO THE AUTHOR OF MEMOIRS OF THE HOUSE OF BRANDENBURGH:
  
ODE XIV. THE COMPLAINT.
  
ODE XV. ON DOMESTIC MANNERS.
  
HYMN TO THE NAIADS.
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INSCRIPTIONS.
  
I. FOR A GROTTO.
  
II. FOR A STATUE OF CHAUCER AT WOODSTOCK.
  
III.
  
IV.
  
VI. FOR A COLUMN AT RUNNYMEDE.
  
VII. THE WOOD NYMPH.
  
VIII.
  
IX.

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ODE I. PREFACE.

I

On yonder verdant hilloc laid,
Where oaks and elms, a friendly shade,
O'erlook the falling stream,
O master of the Latin lyre,
Awhile with thee will i retire
From summer's noontide beam.

II

And, lo, within my lonely bower,
The industrious bee from many a flower
Collects her balmy dews:
“For me,” she sings, “the gems are born,
“For me their silken robe adorn,
“Their fragrant breath diffuse.”
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III

Sweet murmurer! may no rude storm
This hospitable scene deform,
Nor check thy gladsome toils;
Still may the buds unsullied spring,
Still showers and sunshine court thy wing
To these ambrosial spoils.

IV

Nor shall my Muse hereafter fail
Her fellow-labourer thee to hail;
And lucky be the strains!
For long ago did nature frame
Your seasons and your arts the same,
Your pleasures and your pains.

V

Like thee, in lowly, sylvan scenes,
On river-banks and flowery greens
My Muse delighted plays;
Nor through the desart of the air,
Though swans or eagles triumph there,
With fond ambition strays.
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VI

Nor where the boding raven chaunts,
Nor near the owl's unhallow'd haunts
Will she her cares imploy;
But flies from ruins and from tombs,
From superstition's horrid glooms,
To day-light and to joy.

VII

Nor will she tempt the barren waste;
Nor deigns the lurking strength to taste
Of any noxious thing;
But leaves with scorn to envy's use
The insipid nightshade's baneful juice,
The nettle's sordid sting.

VIII

From all which nature fairest knows,
The vernal blooms, the summer rose,
She draws her blameless wealth;
And, when the generous task is done,
She consecrates a double boon,
To pleasure and to health.
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