The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop ... To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life of the Author By the Rev. Thomas Clare |
I. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VIII. |
II. |
The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | ||
166
COLOURS.
At Nature's birth, Almighty Wisdom's care
Bade Light exist,—and Light was every where;
In broad effusion from the Central Beam,
With instant force the living Splendors stream.
Bade Light exist,—and Light was every where;
In broad effusion from the Central Beam,
With instant force the living Splendors stream.
Yet while the total emanations fall
In joint effulgence, and illumine all;
Their separate parts, on separate substance break,
And certain dies, from certain objects take:
Else were creation's scene in vain display'd;—
Uncolour'd Light is but transparent shade.
In joint effulgence, and illumine all;
Their separate parts, on separate substance break,
And certain dies, from certain objects take:
Else were creation's scene in vain display'd;—
Uncolour'd Light is but transparent shade.
Some rays, averse to quit their native sky,
Above the star-pav'd fields of Æther fly.
Of these the tribes, who stronger tints assume,
Flash purple glories from the seraph's plume;
While whiter bands in fleecy robes array
Th' intense serene, or strew the milky way.
Above the star-pav'd fields of Æther fly.
167
Flash purple glories from the seraph's plume;
While whiter bands in fleecy robes array
Th' intense serene, or strew the milky way.
Some in mid-air an humbler station choose;
There bleach the snows, and tinge exhaling dews;
Gleam in red light'nings on the world below;
In bright profusion arch the heavenly bow;
Carpet with blue the sun's meridian way;
Reflect on crimson'd clouds his setting ray;
Or on rude blasts, that Nature's face deform,
Suspend the sullen blackness of the storm.
There bleach the snows, and tinge exhaling dews;
Gleam in red light'nings on the world below;
In bright profusion arch the heavenly bow;
Carpet with blue the sun's meridian way;
Reflect on crimson'd clouds his setting ray;
Or on rude blasts, that Nature's face deform,
Suspend the sullen blackness of the storm.
Some pass more downward still;—content to stray,
Where earth's dense ball imbibes the beam of day.
Of these a part athwart the surface glide,
And in grey mists steam up the mountain's side.
Part o'er the foliage of the sylvan scene
Disperse the extreme vicissitudes of green;
Where the old oak a duskier hue partakes,
And where with every breeze the paler aspen shakes.
Part thro' the flowery realm promiscuous range,
And give th' emergent bloom eternal change;
Burnish the lily's modest leaf; unfold
The rose; and gild the flaunting marigold.
Part on our human frame by turns express
What passions warm us, and what griefs distress;
Pale on the lip of rage, and brow of pain;
Sanguine in joy's flush'd face; and blue in beauty's vein.
Part paint with wild varieties of grace
The feather'd legions, and the savage race;
Spot the gay pard; and to th' astonish'd eye,
Present the lion's yellow majesty;
Or waving swift in shadowy radiance, deck
The pheasant's flaming breast, and peacock's azure neck.
Some deeper plung'd, beneath th' enormous main,
In scaly spangles dress the wat'ry train,
On polish'd conchs, their glitt'ring gloss bestow,
And teach adhesive corals how to glow.
Nay some (so subtle is their texture) pass
Unchang'd thro' solid earth's obdurate mass;
Pierce the recess, where mineral treasures lie,
And give each ripening ore it's genuine die;
Vary a thousand gems, a thousand ways,
And at the centre, light the diamond's blaze.
Where earth's dense ball imbibes the beam of day.
Of these a part athwart the surface glide,
And in grey mists steam up the mountain's side.
Part o'er the foliage of the sylvan scene
Disperse the extreme vicissitudes of green;
168
And where with every breeze the paler aspen shakes.
Part thro' the flowery realm promiscuous range,
And give th' emergent bloom eternal change;
Burnish the lily's modest leaf; unfold
The rose; and gild the flaunting marigold.
Part on our human frame by turns express
What passions warm us, and what griefs distress;
Pale on the lip of rage, and brow of pain;
Sanguine in joy's flush'd face; and blue in beauty's vein.
Part paint with wild varieties of grace
The feather'd legions, and the savage race;
Spot the gay pard; and to th' astonish'd eye,
Present the lion's yellow majesty;
Or waving swift in shadowy radiance, deck
The pheasant's flaming breast, and peacock's azure neck.
Some deeper plung'd, beneath th' enormous main,
In scaly spangles dress the wat'ry train,
169
And teach adhesive corals how to glow.
Nay some (so subtle is their texture) pass
Unchang'd thro' solid earth's obdurate mass;
Pierce the recess, where mineral treasures lie,
And give each ripening ore it's genuine die;
Vary a thousand gems, a thousand ways,
And at the centre, light the diamond's blaze.
Here at the centre, let me close my rhyme;
Wisdom's first maxim is to stop in time:—
Exhaustless Colour, hint on hint inspires;
But soon, too soon! the Muse's pencil tires!
Wisdom's first maxim is to stop in time:—
Exhaustless Colour, hint on hint inspires;
But soon, too soon! the Muse's pencil tires!
The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | ||