Works of the Hon. and Very Rev. William Herbert ... Excepting those on botany and natural history. With additions and corrections by the author |
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THE WATERFALL. |
 | Works of the Hon. and Very Rev. William Herbert |  |
THE WATERFALL.
1792.
Is this the vale, whose shadowy wood
Breathed o'er my bosom strange delight?
Is this the rock, whose sparkling flood
Plunged lightly from the wood-crown'd height?
Breathed o'er my bosom strange delight?
Is this the rock, whose sparkling flood
Plunged lightly from the wood-crown'd height?
Lo! where the foaming stream from high
Dash'd on its mossy couch below,
A frozen column meets my eye,
Suspended from the beetling brow.
Dash'd on its mossy couch below,
A frozen column meets my eye,
Suspended from the beetling brow.
How bare, how naked, frowns the glade!
Where late in thick o'er-arching bow'rs
Soft zephyrs thro' the foliage stray'd,
And gently waved the scented flow'rs;
Where late in thick o'er-arching bow'rs
Soft zephyrs thro' the foliage stray'd,
And gently waved the scented flow'rs;
Where late the glancing sunbeams play'd
On the bright waves and mossy bed;
Or gleam'd along the checker'd shade,
Which leafless now o'erhangs my head.
On the bright waves and mossy bed;
Or gleam'd along the checker'd shade,
Which leafless now o'erhangs my head.
Soon, soon, sweet spring will warm the sky,
And deck the groves with livelier hue;
Awake each floweret's sparkling eye,
And melt the frost with genial dew.
And deck the groves with livelier hue;
Awake each floweret's sparkling eye,
And melt the frost with genial dew.
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O then receive me in your shade,
Ye rocks, that crown the valleys deep,
Ye woods, that deck this watery glade,
And wave beneath the rocky steep!
Ye rocks, that crown the valleys deep,
Ye woods, that deck this watery glade,
And wave beneath the rocky steep!
No cares shall here my bosom pain;
No fearful thoughts my heart alarm;
From hill, from grove, and flowery plain,
Shall sweetly steal a soothing charm.
No fearful thoughts my heart alarm;
From hill, from grove, and flowery plain,
Shall sweetly steal a soothing charm.
And wherefore envy those that shine,
And bask in fortune's transient beam?
While with my flask of jovial wine
I lay me by the rippling stream;
And bask in fortune's transient beam?
While with my flask of jovial wine
I lay me by the rippling stream;
While sweet success may crown my lays
Amid these cool delicious bow'rs;
And future ages learn to praise
The pastime of my harmless hours.
Amid these cool delicious bow'rs;
And future ages learn to praise
The pastime of my harmless hours.
| Works of the Hon. and Very Rev. William Herbert | |