 | The Poetical Works of John Scott |  |
313
SONNETS.
SONNET I. APOLOGY FOR RETIREMENT. 1766.
Why asks my Friend what cheers my passing day,
Where these lone fields my rural home inclose,
That all the pomp the crowded City shows
Ne'er from that home allures my steps away?
Where these lone fields my rural home inclose,
That all the pomp the crowded City shows
Ne'er from that home allures my steps away?
Now thro' the upland shade I musing stray,
And catch the gale that o'er the woodbine blows;
Now in the meads on river banks repose,
And breathe rich odour from the new-mown hay:
And catch the gale that o'er the woodbine blows;
Now in the meads on river banks repose,
And breathe rich odour from the new-mown hay:
Now pleas'd I read the poet's lofty lay,
Where music fraught with useful knowledge flows;
Now Delia's converse makes the moments gay,
The Maid for love and innocence I chose:
O Friend! the man who joys like these can taste,
On vice and folly needs no hour to waste.
Where music fraught with useful knowledge flows;
Now Delia's converse makes the moments gay,
The Maid for love and innocence I chose:
O Friend! the man who joys like these can taste,
On vice and folly needs no hour to waste.
314
SONNET II. TO DELIA. 1766.
Thrice has the Year its varied circuit run,
And swiftly, Delia, have the moments flown,
Since with my love for Thee my care begun,
To improve thy tender mind to science prone.
And swiftly, Delia, have the moments flown,
Since with my love for Thee my care begun,
To improve thy tender mind to science prone.
The flatteries of my sex I bade Thee shun,
I bade Thee shun the manners of thy own;
Fictitious manners, by example won,
That ill for loss of innocence atone!
I bade Thee shun the manners of thy own;
Fictitious manners, by example won,
That ill for loss of innocence atone!
Say, generous Maiden, in whose gentle breast
Dwells simple Nature, undisguis'd by Art,
Now amply tried by Time's unerring test,
How just the dictates of this faithful heart;
Which, with the joys thy favouring smiles impart,
Deems all its care repaid, itself supremely blest!
Dwells simple Nature, undisguis'd by Art,
Now amply tried by Time's unerring test,
How just the dictates of this faithful heart;
Which, with the joys thy favouring smiles impart,
Deems all its care repaid, itself supremely blest!
315
SONNET III. AFTER READING SHENSTONE'S ELEGIES. 1766.
The gentle Shenstone much of Fortune' plain'd,
Where Nature's hand the liberal spirit gave;
Partial, her bounty she too oft restrain'd,
But pour'd it full on Folly's tasteless slave.
Where Nature's hand the liberal spirit gave;
Partial, her bounty she too oft restrain'd,
But pour'd it full on Folly's tasteless slave.
By her alike my humble prayer disdain'd,
She stern denies the only boon I crave;
O'er my fields, fair as those Elysian feign'd,
To bid the green walk wind, the green wood wave.
She stern denies the only boon I crave;
O'er my fields, fair as those Elysian feign'd,
To bid the green walk wind, the green wood wave.
On the high hill to raise the higher tower,
To ope wide prospects over distant plains,
Where by broad rivers towns and villas rise;
Taste prompts the wish, but Fortune bounds the power:
Yet while Health cheers, and Competence sustains,
These more than all, Contentment bids me prize.
To ope wide prospects over distant plains,
Where by broad rivers towns and villas rise;
Taste prompts the wish, but Fortune bounds the power:
Yet while Health cheers, and Competence sustains,
These more than all, Contentment bids me prize.
316
SONNET IV. PREFIXED TO LANGHORNE'S POETICAL WORKS. 1766.
Langhorne! unknown to me (sequester'd swain!)
Save by the Muse's soul-enchanting lay,
To kindred spirits never sung in vain;
Accept the tribute of this light essay.
Save by the Muse's soul-enchanting lay,
To kindred spirits never sung in vain;
Accept the tribute of this light essay.
Sweet are thy songs, they oft amuse my day;
Of Fancy's visions while I hear thee 'plain,
While Scotland's honours claim thy pastoral strain,
Or Music comes o'er Handel tears to pay.
Of Fancy's visions while I hear thee 'plain,
While Scotland's honours claim thy pastoral strain,
Or Music comes o'er Handel tears to pay.
For all thy Irwan's flowery banks display,
Thy Persian Lover, and his Indian fair;
For all Theodosius' mournful lines convey,
When Pride and Avarice part a matchless Pair;
Receive just praise, and wreaths that ne'er decay,
By Fame and Virtue twin'd for thee to wear.
Thy Persian Lover, and his Indian fair;
For all Theodosius' mournful lines convey,
When Pride and Avarice part a matchless Pair;
Receive just praise, and wreaths that ne'er decay,
By Fame and Virtue twin'd for thee to wear.
317
SONNET V. TO BRITAIN. 1766.
Renown'd Britannia! lov'd Parental Land!
Regard thy welfare with a watchful eye!
Whene'er the weight of Want's afflicting hand
Wakes in thy vales the Poor's persuasive cry—
Regard thy welfare with a watchful eye!
Whene'er the weight of Want's afflicting hand
Wakes in thy vales the Poor's persuasive cry—
When wealth enormous sets the Oppressor high,
When bribes thy ductile senators command,
And slaves in office freemen's rights withstand;
Then mourn, for then thy fate approacheth nigh!
When bribes thy ductile senators command,
And slaves in office freemen's rights withstand;
Then mourn, for then thy fate approacheth nigh!
Not from perfidious Gaul or haughty Spain,
Nor all the neighbouring nations of the main,
Tho' leagued in war tremendous round thy shore—
But from Thyself, thy ruin must proceed!
Nor boast thy power; for know it is decreed,
Thy freedom lost, thy power shall be no more!
Nor all the neighbouring nations of the main,
Tho' leagued in war tremendous round thy shore—
But from Thyself, thy ruin must proceed!
Nor boast thy power; for know it is decreed,
Thy freedom lost, thy power shall be no more!
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