Verses by John Frederick Bryant late tobacco-pipe maker at Bristol. Together with his life, written by himself |
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MORNING. |
 | Verses by John Frederick Bryant |  |
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MORNING.
To breathe fresh air, and view the sylvan scenes;
To taste the various sweets of rural life,
The bounteous gifts of Nature, and in part
Recall the bliss of man's primeval state,
I quit the smoking city's busy strife;
Nor with reluctance leave her thronged streets,
With all her dazzling pomp, her gay parades;
Her magisterial train, in scarlet pride;
Her structures beautiful, pil'd high in air;
Her crowded theatres, or splendid balls.
To taste the various sweets of rural life,
The bounteous gifts of Nature, and in part
Recall the bliss of man's primeval state,
I quit the smoking city's busy strife;
Nor with reluctance leave her thronged streets,
With all her dazzling pomp, her gay parades;
Her magisterial train, in scarlet pride;
Her structures beautiful, pil'd high in air;
Her crowded theatres, or splendid balls.
Now hail! ye ample fields, ye choiry groves,
Ye limpid streams, that through the vallies glide;
Ye lofty hills, commanding prospects round
Of wide extent; ye varied prospects, hail!
Where earth, and sky, and water, all combine,
In all their wond'rous forms, to fill the soul
With adoration to the glorious Author
Of Nature's being and stupendous frame!
Ye limpid streams, that through the vallies glide;
Ye lofty hills, commanding prospects round
Of wide extent; ye varied prospects, hail!
Where earth, and sky, and water, all combine,
In all their wond'rous forms, to fill the soul
With adoration to the glorious Author
Of Nature's being and stupendous frame!
43
Oft, as by Fancy led, I'll range the glade,
Or tread the flow'ry lawn, or climb the hill,
Or haunt the lonesome wood's sequester'd path,
Or muse along the margin of the stream;
And, while I visit Nature's local scenes,
Her living beauties shall inspire my song.
Then flow, my numbers, on in peaceful strains;
For Nature's peaceful scenes I mean to sing
In rural verse, and hail the great Creator
With heart-felt praise! while mental gratitude
Glows in my raptur'd breast, and mental love.
Unutterable! sublime! stupendous theme!
Language celestial might exhaust her stores
In numbers great, at Heaven's high festival
By laureat seraph sung; whose boldest flights
But still proclaim how much is left unsung.
Or tread the flow'ry lawn, or climb the hill,
Or haunt the lonesome wood's sequester'd path,
Or muse along the margin of the stream;
And, while I visit Nature's local scenes,
Her living beauties shall inspire my song.
Then flow, my numbers, on in peaceful strains;
For Nature's peaceful scenes I mean to sing
In rural verse, and hail the great Creator
With heart-felt praise! while mental gratitude
Glows in my raptur'd breast, and mental love.
Unutterable! sublime! stupendous theme!
Language celestial might exhaust her stores
In numbers great, at Heaven's high festival
By laureat seraph sung; whose boldest flights
But still proclaim how much is left unsung.
Yet shall my grateful soul aspire to rise
On wings of praise, towards th'Eternal's throne;
Whilst I his gifts receive, and breathe his air,
While with delight my wand'ring eye surveys
Creation's ample round, this mundane scene,
How wide! how glorious! how with wonders fill'd!
How elevating to th'admiring mind!—
See animated Nature, with her train,
Her mighty, her innumerable train,
Inhabiting earth, atmosphere, and sea,
In species rang'd, various of strength and size,
Distinguish'd by innumerable forms;
Some led by wond'rous instinct, some endow'd
With godlike reasoning powers; in action all,
Exhibiting the various modes of life!
While Vegetation robes the fertile earth
In varied verdure, and in gay brocade;
While Vegetation, from her liberal hand,
Deals to the sons of life their sustenance!
To her the learned botanist applies
For every precious health-restoring herb.
By her kind influence the buried grain
Rises propitious to the hopes of man:
By her kind influence fair Flora smiles,
And gay Pomona, o'er her latent fruits,
Which yet awhile compose her bloomy pride:
She rears the prouder, tow'ring, leafy tribes,
And tends the humble shrub, with equal care.
On wings of praise, towards th'Eternal's throne;
Whilst I his gifts receive, and breathe his air,
While with delight my wand'ring eye surveys
Creation's ample round, this mundane scene,
How wide! how glorious! how with wonders fill'd!
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See animated Nature, with her train,
Her mighty, her innumerable train,
Inhabiting earth, atmosphere, and sea,
In species rang'd, various of strength and size,
Distinguish'd by innumerable forms;
Some led by wond'rous instinct, some endow'd
With godlike reasoning powers; in action all,
Exhibiting the various modes of life!
While Vegetation robes the fertile earth
In varied verdure, and in gay brocade;
While Vegetation, from her liberal hand,
Deals to the sons of life their sustenance!
To her the learned botanist applies
For every precious health-restoring herb.
By her kind influence the buried grain
Rises propitious to the hopes of man:
By her kind influence fair Flora smiles,
And gay Pomona, o'er her latent fruits,
Which yet awhile compose her bloomy pride:
She rears the prouder, tow'ring, leafy tribes,
And tends the humble shrub, with equal care.
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Great Spring of Motion! vegetation's cause;
And life's great fountain, whence but late I sprung;
For great ambition bids me call thee Sire,
And boast myself a native of the skies;
Accept this filial tribute from my hand,
And deign, at intervals, to be my theme,
When gazing on thy works, they point to Thee!
When atmosphere in thunder cries, a God!
When ocean's billows roar Omnipotence!
When continents and isles display their Maker
In large expanding prospect! when I soar,
And Heaven's broad fields amaze my ravish'd muse!
And life's great fountain, whence but late I sprung;
For great ambition bids me call thee Sire,
And boast myself a native of the skies;
Accept this filial tribute from my hand,
And deign, at intervals, to be my theme,
When gazing on thy works, they point to Thee!
When atmosphere in thunder cries, a God!
When ocean's billows roar Omnipotence!
When continents and isles display their Maker
In large expanding prospect! when I soar,
And Heaven's broad fields amaze my ravish'd muse!
The grand vicissitudes that mark the hours
In which our globe revolves, I'll sing; the Morn
With all her sweets, in all her gay attire
Of summer garments clad; the radiant Noon,
With all the pride of day; the milder Eve,
And Sol's descending orb; the black-wing'd Night,
Whose gloom, contrasted by her burning gems,
With solemn grandeur fills her silent reign.
In which our globe revolves, I'll sing; the Morn
With all her sweets, in all her gay attire
Of summer garments clad; the radiant Noon,
With all the pride of day; the milder Eve,
And Sol's descending orb; the black-wing'd Night,
Whose gloom, contrasted by her burning gems,
With solemn grandeur fills her silent reign.
But soft! the Morning, wrapt in mantle grey,
Breaks faintly o'er yon interposing hills,
Smiling serenely on the sleeping world,
That, soon awaking, shall return her smile.
Nor can I feel, unmov'd, her gentle ray,
Re-cheering once again my grateful orbs,
That roll'd, but now, bewilder'd and begloom'd
Amid nocturnal shades:—Hail! glorious light!
Heaven's fairest child, essence of beauty, hail!
That best can'st speak the goodness and the pow'r
Of Him who form'd you, and supplies your fires,
Pay him a tribute of your brightest beams;
While men and angels, wrapt in admiration,
Behold the scene! display out all your wonders!
Shine your Creator's praise from world to world,
And blaze his glory through the universe!
Breaks faintly o'er yon interposing hills,
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That, soon awaking, shall return her smile.
Nor can I feel, unmov'd, her gentle ray,
Re-cheering once again my grateful orbs,
That roll'd, but now, bewilder'd and begloom'd
Amid nocturnal shades:—Hail! glorious light!
Heaven's fairest child, essence of beauty, hail!
That best can'st speak the goodness and the pow'r
Of Him who form'd you, and supplies your fires,
Pay him a tribute of your brightest beams;
While men and angels, wrapt in admiration,
Behold the scene! display out all your wonders!
Shine your Creator's praise from world to world,
And blaze his glory through the universe!
As yet I can survey the trembling stars,
And yet but faintly view the objects round;
Scarce is discernible that narrow path
That leads across to yonder distant stile,
Beyond whose dusky bars my doubtful eyes
The rising ground and woodland kens obscure,
Where nothing certain meets my straiten'd sight;
But yonder gleam, now bright'ning in the east
With gradual pace, will yet ere long restore
The fields their verdure, and their tints the flow'rs.
And yet but faintly view the objects round;
Scarce is discernible that narrow path
That leads across to yonder distant stile,
Beyond whose dusky bars my doubtful eyes
The rising ground and woodland kens obscure,
Where nothing certain meets my straiten'd sight;
But yonder gleam, now bright'ning in the east
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The fields their verdure, and their tints the flow'rs.
How pleasing 'tis to walk this early hour!
T'indulge the mind in sacred contemplation,
Free from disturbance, in these calm retreats,
While all is silent, save the tinkling rill,
Or whispering breeze that steals from Flora's bosom
The sweets of flow'rs and aromatic herbs,
Whose wafted odours oft regale the sense!
T'indulge the mind in sacred contemplation,
Free from disturbance, in these calm retreats,
While all is silent, save the tinkling rill,
Or whispering breeze that steals from Flora's bosom
The sweets of flow'rs and aromatic herbs,
Whose wafted odours oft regale the sense!
Now fade the spangles in yon azure vault,
While to the western deep the shadows fly,
And hills, and dales, and groves, and lawns, appear
In prospect more distinct; Nature awakes,
And prompts her offspring to begin the strain,
And tunes her universal voice to joy:
For hark! along the hedge the early birds,
As yet but softly twittering (hardly heard
Amid the purling rivulet's plaintive noise)
Preparing all to hail the God of day
With grateful carol and exulting hymn.—
And now the lark, suspended on the wing
In air sublime, warbles his artless lay,
And sweetly lengthens out each joyous note,
Charming, with soft delight, the list'ning ear.
Sweet bird! that celebrat'st the rising morn,
Enraptur'd while I hear thy swelling strains,
With thee I'd soar, and mix with thine my song.—
Meanwhile, at distance, hear the bird of Mars,
Perpetual harbinger of day's approach,
In louder note proclaims returning morn
Throughout the village, while from farm to farm
The strain'd response is heard the country round.
While to the western deep the shadows fly,
And hills, and dales, and groves, and lawns, appear
In prospect more distinct; Nature awakes,
And prompts her offspring to begin the strain,
And tunes her universal voice to joy:
For hark! along the hedge the early birds,
As yet but softly twittering (hardly heard
Amid the purling rivulet's plaintive noise)
Preparing all to hail the God of day
With grateful carol and exulting hymn.—
And now the lark, suspended on the wing
In air sublime, warbles his artless lay,
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Charming, with soft delight, the list'ning ear.
Sweet bird! that celebrat'st the rising morn,
Enraptur'd while I hear thy swelling strains,
With thee I'd soar, and mix with thine my song.—
Meanwhile, at distance, hear the bird of Mars,
Perpetual harbinger of day's approach,
In louder note proclaims returning morn
Throughout the village, while from farm to farm
The strain'd response is heard the country round.
Proceed, my muse! sing how Aurora smiles:
Mark how she blushes in the eastern sky,
Tinging with purple half th'ethereal arch.
Welcome, Aurora, to our hemisphere!
Welcome, Aurora, to my gladden'd eyes!
Thy milder aspect, and thy softer charms,
Propitious ushering in the blaze of day,
Bid waking Nature sweetly smile, and yield
The tranquil breast a joy without a name.
Mark how she blushes in the eastern sky,
Tinging with purple half th'ethereal arch.
Welcome, Aurora, to our hemisphere!
Welcome, Aurora, to my gladden'd eyes!
Thy milder aspect, and thy softer charms,
Propitious ushering in the blaze of day,
Bid waking Nature sweetly smile, and yield
The tranquil breast a joy without a name.
Thus far the dawn's refracted ray I've sung,
And sometimes aim'd to snatch a thought sublime,
Or grace or dignity to raise my song
Above the multitude unknown to fame.
But now behold a grander scene appears,
That mocks the fervent efforts of my muse,
Descriptive singing, where description fails.
Come then, bright Inspiration! to my aid;
Enthusiastic ardours, fill my breast!
And, while my fir'd imagination burns,
Be my effusions equal to my theme!
I sing a purple sky, with clouds of gold;
An orient horizon in a blaze
Of bursting glory; an enlighten'd earth
Of variegated form, and beauteous shades,
With all those overwhelming floods of light
That stream immediate from the fount of day!
And sometimes aim'd to snatch a thought sublime,
Or grace or dignity to raise my song
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But now behold a grander scene appears,
That mocks the fervent efforts of my muse,
Descriptive singing, where description fails.
Come then, bright Inspiration! to my aid;
Enthusiastic ardours, fill my breast!
And, while my fir'd imagination burns,
Be my effusions equal to my theme!
I sing a purple sky, with clouds of gold;
An orient horizon in a blaze
Of bursting glory; an enlighten'd earth
Of variegated form, and beauteous shades,
With all those overwhelming floods of light
That stream immediate from the fount of day!
Great prince! and patron of th'inspiring nine,
Bright Phœbus! in thy morning pomp array'd,
That 'midst th'acclaim of universal joy
Mak'st thy triumphal entry to the world,
Rejoic'd thy rising glory I behold,
Reviv'd thy vivifying warmth I feel,
And grateful celebrate thy blest return!
Bright Phœbus! in thy morning pomp array'd,
That 'midst th'acclaim of universal joy
Mak'st thy triumphal entry to the world,
Rejoic'd thy rising glory I behold,
Reviv'd thy vivifying warmth I feel,
And grateful celebrate thy blest return!
The welcome signal of thy first approach
The mountains from their gilded summits gave:
At length the misty vales enjoy thy rays,
Whose vapours now subsiding, soon disclose
The nether landscape, bright'ning to the view,
Woods, winding streams, and dew-bespangled lawns.
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At length the misty vales enjoy thy rays,
Whose vapours now subsiding, soon disclose
The nether landscape, bright'ning to the view,
Woods, winding streams, and dew-bespangled lawns.
Shot from thy glowing disk, now just uprear'd,
Earth chear'd receives thy horizontal beams;
Fresh-growing vigour ev'ry herb resumes;
The fragrant flow'rs expand their painted leaves;
While animation feels extatic joys:
The lowing herds, the bleating flocks uprise,
The wanton kids and fawns with pleasure bound,
The groves with aviarian concerts ring,
And sweet responses charm from every bush.
Thy genial influence all nature feels,
With grateful sensibility replete,
Save man's obdurate breast; whom thirst of gain,
Whom jealousy, despair, or fell revenge,
Has render'd callous to thy piercing ray.
Earth chear'd receives thy horizontal beams;
Fresh-growing vigour ev'ry herb resumes;
The fragrant flow'rs expand their painted leaves;
While animation feels extatic joys:
The lowing herds, the bleating flocks uprise,
The wanton kids and fawns with pleasure bound,
The groves with aviarian concerts ring,
And sweet responses charm from every bush.
Thy genial influence all nature feels,
With grateful sensibility replete,
Save man's obdurate breast; whom thirst of gain,
Whom jealousy, despair, or fell revenge,
Has render'd callous to thy piercing ray.
Well might the ancient pagan world proclaim
Thee God of health, and harmony, and song!
Well may the unenlighten'd Easterns bend
With adoration to the rising sun!
And well may we, of science more profound,
Of truth's eternal oracles possess'd,
When we behold thy broad emerging wheel,
And view th'illuminated prospect round,
To Him our grateful adoration pay,
Who form'd thy burning orb, and myriads more,
From us remote, perhaps, whose bulk and blaze
Exceed beyond imagination thine!
Thee God of health, and harmony, and song!
Well may the unenlighten'd Easterns bend
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And well may we, of science more profound,
Of truth's eternal oracles possess'd,
When we behold thy broad emerging wheel,
And view th'illuminated prospect round,
To Him our grateful adoration pay,
Who form'd thy burning orb, and myriads more,
From us remote, perhaps, whose bulk and blaze
Exceed beyond imagination thine!
Without a grateful rapture, what cold breast
Can feel the solar life-supplying fire,
While pleasure finds its way through ev'ry sense,
While all around conspires to yield it joy?
With one ungenerous sentiment retain'd,
Through this delightful valley who could stray,
And view fair Spring unbosom all her charms,
Her foliage, her blossoms, and her flow'rs,
While heavenly Morning gilds the smiling scene,
And Nature's voice is harmony and love?
Enchanted here her beauties I explore,
Amid the charm of birds and sweets of flow'rs;
At ev'ry step I stay to gaze around,
The prospect ever varying; while along
The verge of this clear brook I take my way,
And hear its pleasing murmurs: now it parts,
A clump of weeping willows to embrace,
And here again unites its lucid stream;
Now with a narrower surface hurrying on,
Now wid'ning as it winds among the shades
Of this embow'ring copse, where, smooth as that
In which Narcissus fatally admir'd
His own reflection (as of old 'tis sung)
It glides, and almost ceases to complain.
Can feel the solar life-supplying fire,
While pleasure finds its way through ev'ry sense,
While all around conspires to yield it joy?
With one ungenerous sentiment retain'd,
Through this delightful valley who could stray,
And view fair Spring unbosom all her charms,
Her foliage, her blossoms, and her flow'rs,
While heavenly Morning gilds the smiling scene,
And Nature's voice is harmony and love?
Enchanted here her beauties I explore,
Amid the charm of birds and sweets of flow'rs;
At ev'ry step I stay to gaze around,
52
The verge of this clear brook I take my way,
And hear its pleasing murmurs: now it parts,
A clump of weeping willows to embrace,
And here again unites its lucid stream;
Now with a narrower surface hurrying on,
Now wid'ning as it winds among the shades
Of this embow'ring copse, where, smooth as that
In which Narcissus fatally admir'd
His own reflection (as of old 'tis sung)
It glides, and almost ceases to complain.
Now to the ear, brought nearer by the breeze,
Harsh roars the torrent from the clapp'ring mill
Behind yon spacious orchard, whose rich bloom
Portends autumnal plenty; now again
Its less'ning clamour, which to distance yields,
Is barely heard amid the gen'ral charm
Of universal Nature's Morning song.
Harsh roars the torrent from the clapp'ring mill
Behind yon spacious orchard, whose rich bloom
Portends autumnal plenty; now again
Its less'ning clamour, which to distance yields,
Is barely heard amid the gen'ral charm
Of universal Nature's Morning song.
From hence the elevated eye surveys,
Extending on the left, th'aspiring hill,
Up whose uneven side the thicket hangs,
Oft frightful nodding o'er its winding base,
That forms the sidelong bound of this gay mead,
Now with sweet cowslips deck'd, and here and there
A blooming hawthorn, underneath whose shade
The primrose pale, that early meets the year,
And heav'n-complexion'd violet, love to dwell.
While all the right exhibits cultur'd fields,
That gently rising face th'ascending sun,
And bright reflect his glory: here the hand
Of human industry is full display'd
Amid earth's green productions, which of late
Have felt the warmth, and drank the show'rs of spring,
And promise well man's labour to repay.
Extending on the left, th'aspiring hill,
Up whose uneven side the thicket hangs,
Oft frightful nodding o'er its winding base,
53
Now with sweet cowslips deck'd, and here and there
A blooming hawthorn, underneath whose shade
The primrose pale, that early meets the year,
And heav'n-complexion'd violet, love to dwell.
While all the right exhibits cultur'd fields,
That gently rising face th'ascending sun,
And bright reflect his glory: here the hand
Of human industry is full display'd
Amid earth's green productions, which of late
Have felt the warmth, and drank the show'rs of spring,
And promise well man's labour to repay.
Through yonder opening pleasing is the view
Of objects more at distance, where the sight
Plays on an ampler scale: now village spires
Appear, and villas gay, and spacious farms,
With many a low-roof'd cottage, scarce observ'd
By thoughtless Folly's superficial eye,
By upstart Pride, that seldom deigns to note
The humble dwellings of the labouring poor.
Of objects more at distance, where the sight
Plays on an ampler scale: now village spires
Appear, and villas gay, and spacious farms,
With many a low-roof'd cottage, scarce observ'd
By thoughtless Folly's superficial eye,
By upstart Pride, that seldom deigns to note
The humble dwellings of the labouring poor.
O black Ingratitude! O shameful Pride!
Whose cold contempt insults the honest poor,
To whose humility and toil ye owe,
Next the Divine permission (gracious giv'n
And often unexpectedly resum'd)
For all your superfluity and state.
Their ready hands with patience hold the plough,
And spread the latent harvest o'er your land;
Their daily labour cultivates the ground,
With ev'ry plant our happy climate yields;
While the poor working manufact'rer's art
Clothes and accommodates the princely peer.
Whose cold contempt insults the honest poor,
To whose humility and toil ye owe,
54
And often unexpectedly resum'd)
For all your superfluity and state.
Their ready hands with patience hold the plough,
And spread the latent harvest o'er your land;
Their daily labour cultivates the ground,
With ev'ry plant our happy climate yields;
While the poor working manufact'rer's art
Clothes and accommodates the princely peer.
See yonder scaffold-girded building rise
Beneath the skilful workmen's busy hands:
Mark too the active labourers, that hard
Their scanty wages earn, bearing aloft
The ponderous materials for the pile;
And let the tenant of magnificence
Respect the hands that rais'd the stately dome.
Beneath the skilful workmen's busy hands:
Mark too the active labourers, that hard
Their scanty wages earn, bearing aloft
The ponderous materials for the pile;
And let the tenant of magnificence
Respect the hands that rais'd the stately dome.
Now in th'adjacent field, where flocks and herds
Promiscuous crop the blade, with chearful brow
Her early task the ruddy-featur'd maid
Begins, and each full udder to her pail
Resigns its burthen, sweetly while she sings
Her simple song of some inconstant swain,
Or mournful fate of rural maids in love.
Ah, damsel! may the moral of thy song
Thy youthful heart from vile seduction guard!
Promiscuous crop the blade, with chearful brow
Her early task the ruddy-featur'd maid
Begins, and each full udder to her pail
Resigns its burthen, sweetly while she sings
Her simple song of some inconstant swain,
Or mournful fate of rural maids in love.
55
Thy youthful heart from vile seduction guard!
O thou sweet muse! that oft on Avon's banks
Hast tun'd the harps, and taught th'immortal verse
Of Bristol bards—that partial didst inspire
Lactilla's numbers, while the rocky scene
And Clifton's villa'd heights she sung—yet deign
To crown my invocation with thy smiles,
While emulous I court thy sacred aid,
And sing the various beauties of the Morn!
Hast tun'd the harps, and taught th'immortal verse
Of Bristol bards—that partial didst inspire
Lactilla's numbers, while the rocky scene
And Clifton's villa'd heights she sung—yet deign
To crown my invocation with thy smiles,
While emulous I court thy sacred aid,
And sing the various beauties of the Morn!
Thus far I've wander'd through the flow'ry vale,
The thicket brush'd, and trac'd the mazy stream;
And now ascending to the mountain's brow,
(The lesser hills receding as I rise)
A glorious western prospect opens large,
In all the glow of Morning's youthful pride,
And beauty and sublimity conjoin
Their greater powers, with such effectual force
To strike th'enamour'd and admiring mind,
That gratitude, and love, and adoration,
To Nature's general Parent lift the soul!
The thicket brush'd, and trac'd the mazy stream;
And now ascending to the mountain's brow,
(The lesser hills receding as I rise)
A glorious western prospect opens large,
In all the glow of Morning's youthful pride,
And beauty and sublimity conjoin
Their greater powers, with such effectual force
To strike th'enamour'd and admiring mind,
That gratitude, and love, and adoration,
To Nature's general Parent lift the soul!
[To be continued.]
| Verses by John Frederick Bryant | |