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Juvenilia

or, A collection of poems. Written between the ages of twelve and seventeen, by J. H. L. Hunt ... Fourth Edition

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AUTUMN.
  
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143

AUTUMN.

Fair Autumn spreads her fields of gold,
And waves her amber wand;
See earth its yellow charms unfold
Beneath her magic hand!
Unrivall'd Beauty decks our vales,
Bright Fruitfulness our plains;
Gay Health with Chearfulness prevails,
And smiling Glory reigns.
To Thee, great lib'ral Source of all,
We strike our earthly lyre;
Till Fate our rising soul shall call,
And Angels form the choir.
The splendour that enchants our eyes,
Reminds us of thy fame;
The blessings that from earth arise
Thy gen'rous hand proclaim.

144

The plenty round our meadows seen
Is emblem of thy love;
And harmony that binds the scene,
The peace that reigns above.
Beneath the sickle, smiling round,
And in destruction fair,
The golden harvest strews the ground,
And shuts the labour'd year.
Man drops into refreshing rest,
And smooths his wearied brow;
With rural peace the herds are blest.
And Nature smiles below!
O let thy hand, parental King,
Be open to our pray'rs!
Unlock sweet Plenty's lib'ral spring,
And show'r untainted airs.
And send me thro' life's noiseless way,
With Innocence my guide;
Let no temptations bid me stray,
And leave her angel side!

145

O let the bird of tuneful breath,
The beast that frisks on earth,
The fish that sports the wave beneath,
Enjoy their short liv'd mirth!
Let no rude instrument of Fate
Arrest the flutt'ring wing;
No horns re-echo at my gate,
That smiles and slaughter bring;
No quav'ring line, with tortur'd snare
In agonizing fraud,
Explore the streams, that flow so fair,
To tempt the wat'ry lord!
That Mercy which to man is giv'n,
So sweet with dewy eyes,
O let it seek its native Heav'n,
When gentle Pity dies!