The poetical works of William Nicholson With a memoir by Malcolm M'L. Harper ... Fourth edition |
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THE MORNING INVITATION. |
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 | The poetical works of William Nicholson |  |
THE MORNING INVITATION.
Dear Chloe, why wast'st thou the moments
That's sweetest for pleasure or health?
Thy senses are sealed up in slumbers,
While Nature displays all her wealth.
That's sweetest for pleasure or health?
Thy senses are sealed up in slumbers,
While Nature displays all her wealth.
The breath of the morning is gentle,
And spreads with fresh fragrance the dawn;
And soft is the sound of the sea wave,
That murmurs along on the strand.
And spreads with fresh fragrance the dawn;
And soft is the sound of the sea wave,
That murmurs along on the strand.
The sun is his glories unshrouding,
And paints with soft blushes the sky,
To banish the shades of the morning,
And speak that his presence is nigh.
And paints with soft blushes the sky,
To banish the shades of the morning,
And speak that his presence is nigh.
145
The mist's from the mountains dispelling;
Each shepherd has sounded his horn:
The dew has bestudded the blossoms,
That bloom on the sweet-scented thorn.
Each shepherd has sounded his horn:
The dew has bestudded the blossoms,
That bloom on the sweet-scented thorn.
Now the trees have resumèd their clothing,
And the small birds they sing on each spray,
As they carol their notes in the morning,
To welcome the new coming day.
And the small birds they sing on each spray,
As they carol their notes in the morning,
To welcome the new coming day.
The fields they are deckèd with daisies;
The primroses blow in the glens;
The wild lilies bud forth their blossoms,
And violets enamel the plains.
The primroses blow in the glens;
The wild lilies bud forth their blossoms,
And violets enamel the plains.
Oh! come then, my lovely, my fairest,
My every way charming, my queen—
Thy presence improves every landscape,
And aids with new beauty each scene!
My every way charming, my queen—
Thy presence improves every landscape,
And aids with new beauty each scene!
A wreath of the flowers I'll weave thee,
That's sweetest for flavour and hue;
When finished as fancy shall dictate,
I'll bind round thy polishëd brow.
That's sweetest for flavour and hue;
When finished as fancy shall dictate,
I'll bind round thy polishëd brow.
On my arm I will gently support thee,
And lead thee o'er mountains and plains;
My pipe I will sound to thee cheerily,
And banish all care with its strains.
And lead thee o'er mountains and plains;
My pipe I will sound to thee cheerily,
And banish all care with its strains.
The far distant tops of the mountains,
We'll mark while they're tingëd with blue;
And trees that o'ershadow the fountains—
While our flocks are a-feeding we'll view.
We'll mark while they're tingëd with blue;
And trees that o'ershadow the fountains—
While our flocks are a-feeding we'll view.
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Thus Nature, in her native graces,
A charm to the mind can impart—
Beyond all the frippery of dresses,
Or all the gay trappings of art.
A charm to the mind can impart—
Beyond all the frippery of dresses,
Or all the gay trappings of art.
The great ones may roll in their riches,
False honour and title may prove—
But they ne'er can yield peace to the bosom,
Like Chloe, true Friendship, and Love.
False honour and title may prove—
But they ne'er can yield peace to the bosom,
Like Chloe, true Friendship, and Love.
| The poetical works of William Nicholson | |