Poems, moral and descriptive By the late Richard Jago ... (Prepared for the press, and improved by the author, before his death.) To which is added, some account of the life and writings of Mr. Jago |
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 | Poems, moral and descriptive |  |
207
The GOLDFINCHES.
An ELEGY. TO WILLIAM SHENSTONE, ESQ.
Ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes
Emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros.
Emollit mores, nec sinit esse feros.
To you, whose groves protect the feather'd choirs,
Who lend their artless notes a willing ear,
To you, whom Pity moves, and Taste inspires,
The Doric strain belongs, O Shenstone hear.
Who lend their artless notes a willing ear,
To you, whom Pity moves, and Taste inspires,
The Doric strain belongs, O Shenstone hear.
'Twas gentle Spring, when all the plumy race,
By Nature taught in nuptial leagues combine,
A Goldfinch joy'd to meet the warm embrace,
And with her mate in Love's delights to join.
By Nature taught in nuptial leagues combine,
A Goldfinch joy'd to meet the warm embrace,
And with her mate in Love's delights to join.
All in a garden, on a currant-bush,
With wond'rous art they built their airy seat;
In the next orchard liv'd a friendly Thrush,
Nor distant far a Woodlark's soft retreat.
With wond'rous art they built their airy seat;
In the next orchard liv'd a friendly Thrush,
Nor distant far a Woodlark's soft retreat.
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Here blest with ease, and in each other blest,
With early songs they wak'd the neighb'ring groves,
Till time matur'd their joys, and crown'd their nest
With infant pledges of their faithful loves.
With early songs they wak'd the neighb'ring groves,
Till time matur'd their joys, and crown'd their nest
With infant pledges of their faithful loves.
And now what transport glow'd in either's eye?
What equal fondness dealt th'allotted food?
What joy each other's likeness to descry,
And future sonnets in the chirping brood!
What equal fondness dealt th'allotted food?
What joy each other's likeness to descry,
And future sonnets in the chirping brood!
But ah! what earthly happiness can last?
How does the fairest purpose often fail?
A truant schoolboy's wantonness cou'd blast
Their flatt'ring hopes, and leave them both to wail.
How does the fairest purpose often fail?
A truant schoolboy's wantonness cou'd blast
Their flatt'ring hopes, and leave them both to wail.
The most ungentle of his tribe was he,
No gen'rous precept ever touch'd his heart,
With concord false, and hideous prosody
He scrawl'd his task, and blunder'd o'er his part.
No gen'rous precept ever touch'd his heart,
With concord false, and hideous prosody
He scrawl'd his task, and blunder'd o'er his part.
On mischief bent, he mark'd, with rav'nous eyes,
Where wrapt in down the callow songsters lay,
Then rushing, rudely seiz'd the glitt'ring prize,
And bore it in his impious hands away!
Where wrapt in down the callow songsters lay,
Then rushing, rudely seiz'd the glitt'ring prize,
And bore it in his impious hands away!
209
But how shall I describe, in numbers rude,
The pangs for poor Chrysomitris decreed,
When from her secret stand aghast she view'd
The cruel spoiler perpetrate the deed?
The pangs for poor Chrysomitris decreed,
When from her secret stand aghast she view'd
The cruel spoiler perpetrate the deed?
O grief of griefs! with shrieking voice she cried,
What sight is this that I have liv'd to see!
O! that I had in Youth's fair season died,
From Love's false joys, and bitter sorrows free.
What sight is this that I have liv'd to see!
O! that I had in Youth's fair season died,
From Love's false joys, and bitter sorrows free.
Was it for this, alas! with weary bill,
Was it for this I pois'd th'unwieldy straw?
For this I bore the moss from yonder hill,
Nor shun'd the pond'rous stick along to draw?
Was it for this I pois'd th'unwieldy straw?
For this I bore the moss from yonder hill,
Nor shun'd the pond'rous stick along to draw?
Was it for this I pick'd the wool with care,
Intent with nicer skill our work to crown?
For this, with pain, I bent the stubborn hair,
And lin'd our cradle with the thistle's down?
Intent with nicer skill our work to crown?
For this, with pain, I bent the stubborn hair,
And lin'd our cradle with the thistle's down?
Was it for this my freedom I resign'd,
And ceas'd to rove at large from plain to plain?
For this I sate at home whole days confin'd,
To bear the scorching heat, and pealing rain?
And ceas'd to rove at large from plain to plain?
For this I sate at home whole days confin'd,
To bear the scorching heat, and pealing rain?
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Was it for this my watchful eyes grow dim?
For this the roses on my cheek turn pale?
Pale is my golden plumage, once so trim!
And all my wonted mirth, and spirits fail!
For this the roses on my cheek turn pale?
Pale is my golden plumage, once so trim!
And all my wonted mirth, and spirits fail!
O Plund'rer vile! O more than Adders fell!
More murth'rous than the Cat, with prudish face!
Fiercer than Kites in whom the Furies dwell,
And thievish as the Cuckow's pilf'ring race!
More murth'rous than the Cat, with prudish face!
Fiercer than Kites in whom the Furies dwell,
And thievish as the Cuckow's pilf'ring race!
May juicy plumbs for thee forbear to grow,
For thee no flow'r unveil its charming dies;
May birch-trees thrive to work thee sharper woe,
And list'ning starlings mock thy frantic cries.
For thee no flow'r unveil its charming dies;
May birch-trees thrive to work thee sharper woe,
And list'ning starlings mock thy frantic cries.
Thus sang the mournful bird her piteous tale,
The piteous tale her mournful mate return'd,
Then side by side they sought the distant vale,
And there in secret sadness inly mourn'd.
The piteous tale her mournful mate return'd,
Then side by side they sought the distant vale,
And there in secret sadness inly mourn'd.
| Poems, moral and descriptive | |