University of Virginia Library

THE APPROACH OF SPRING.

Queen-Spring, now com'st thou in thy pomp and pride,
Ruling thy Vernal Empire far and wide,
Beauty and joy come with thee, and thou sweepest
In radiant state along—but while thou heapest
Thy rosy treasures prodigally still,
Till laughs the vale and shines the beamy hill,
Till wears the wood an hundred tender dyes
Of various green, whose fine diversities
Perplex the sense, (since Oh! there is no end
To those pure tints that exquisitely blend
In One Perfection—not more various shows
The Sunset sky when most divine it glows,
The Rainbow's arch—or diamond's shining frame,
Though here 'tis still another—and the same!—
Variety in Unity—and Change
In fairest constancy,—sweet contrast strange!)
While joyauncy and splendour and delight
Meet everywhere the pleased and flattered sight.
Still, warbling fount thou seemest to complain—
Set free from thine enfolding Winter chain—
A tale thou tell'st of sweet and gentle grief
To the reflected flow'r and mirrored leaf,
And still dost thou a mournful aspect keep,
Oh! golden Willow—that dost bend and weep,
With thy long lavish streamers, free and fair,
That tremblingly caress the smiling air.
And thou, with richest note and tenderest moan,
Oh! plaintive ring-dove, mak'st thy sadness known.
Nature still keeps for heavy hearts that mourn
A gentle sympathy—nor doth she turn
Away from these in all her state and pride,
But yet reserves for them soft tones aside,
For them a mild pathetic grace retains,
Which best can soothe their pent and bosomed pains.
While the glad-hearted can find nought but mirth
Through all th' enkindled Sky and gilded Earth,
The sorrowful can mark the accordant tone,
Whose soft complaints suit ever with their own!