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ODE II. THE EVENING WALK.
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170

ODE II. THE EVENING WALK.

What time fair Spring, with dewy hand,
Awakes her cowslip bloom;
And hawthorn boughs, by breezes fann'd,
Diffuse a rich perfume:
Young Theron down the valley stray'd
At evening's silent hour;
When bright the setting sunbeams play'd
On Hertford's distant tower.
He sigh'd, and cast around his eye
O'er all the pleasing scene;
Now tow'rds the golden-clouded sky,
Now on the fields of green.

171

‘Thrice has fair Spring her cowslip bloom
‘Awak'd with dewy hand;
‘And hawthorn boughs diffus'd perfume,
‘By western breezes fann'd;
‘Since here, at evening's silent hour,
‘Delighted oft I stray'd;
‘While bright on Hertford's distant tower
‘The setting sunbeams play'd:
‘'Twas then the flatterer Hope was near,
‘And sung this soothing strain:
“Where thro' the trees yon tow'rs appear
“Far o'er the level plain;
“There oft thy pleasant evening walk
“Thy favourite Maid shall join,
“And all the charms of tender talk
“And tuneful song be thine:

172

“With thee she'll hear the bleat of flocks,
“The throstle's mellow lay;
“The rills that murmur o'er the rocks,
“The whispers of the spray.”—
‘So sung false Hope—Deceiv'd I heard,
‘And set my heart at ease;
‘The future then so fair appear'd,
‘It made the present please.
‘So sung false Hope—The approaching years,
‘That distant look'd so gay,
‘With clouds of cares and storms of fears
‘All fraught, have pass'd away.
‘As glides yon sun adown the sky,
‘As rolls yon rapid stream;
‘So fast our joys and sorrows fly,
‘And flown appear a dream.

173

‘Be then the events that Time has brought,
‘To me not brought in vain;
‘By painful disappointment taught,
‘Let wisdom be my gain!’
Thus Theron spoke, and earnest eyed
The sun's departing ray;
Again he look'd, again he sigh'd,
And homeward bent his way.