The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
O Bolton, what a change! but still thou art
Noble in ruin, great in every part!
When we behold thee, signs of grandeur, gone,
Live on thy walls, and shine on every stone;
Thy shades are lovely through each varied day,
Thy rocks, thy woods, thy streams, where beauties play;
Lovely, when, rosy in the east, the sun
Shows the high hills the cheerful day's begun.
Throughout the day, in all the hours which shine,
Peace, beauty, and rich scenery are thine;
But, when the evening shades, like curtains, are
Thrown o'er the wheels of day's resplendent car;
When the broad moon, as though she rose to see
The hoary columns of antiquity;
Then, solemn grandeur greets the changing queen,
And Wharf's reflection helps to light the scene.
At every well-selected point of view,
Fresh scenes appear, as beautiful as new;
There the broad river shining with the sun,
And there the streams in eddying circles run:
Deep roars the Strid in snow-white robe of spray,
At rest below the wearied waters stay.
Thus have I seen the rock-verged deep at rest,
The foam, like marble, varying on its breast;
The ivy bower, secure from summer's heat,
For contemplation, what a blest retreat!
Where the grey ruin, and each varied hill,
Exceed in beauty fine descriptive skill.
There may the rural poet sit and write,
The learned astronomer survey the night;
The love-sick lover here may sit and dream,
Lulled to his slumber by the murmuring stream:
But streams and woods, and waterfalls and flowers,
Lovers' retreats, rich lawns, and shady bowers,
Have all been sung in lovers' verse so fine,
No room is left to hold another line.
Noble in ruin, great in every part!
56
Live on thy walls, and shine on every stone;
Thy shades are lovely through each varied day,
Thy rocks, thy woods, thy streams, where beauties play;
Lovely, when, rosy in the east, the sun
Shows the high hills the cheerful day's begun.
Throughout the day, in all the hours which shine,
Peace, beauty, and rich scenery are thine;
But, when the evening shades, like curtains, are
Thrown o'er the wheels of day's resplendent car;
When the broad moon, as though she rose to see
The hoary columns of antiquity;
Then, solemn grandeur greets the changing queen,
And Wharf's reflection helps to light the scene.
At every well-selected point of view,
Fresh scenes appear, as beautiful as new;
There the broad river shining with the sun,
And there the streams in eddying circles run:
Deep roars the Strid in snow-white robe of spray,
At rest below the wearied waters stay.
Thus have I seen the rock-verged deep at rest,
The foam, like marble, varying on its breast;
The ivy bower, secure from summer's heat,
For contemplation, what a blest retreat!
Where the grey ruin, and each varied hill,
Exceed in beauty fine descriptive skill.
There may the rural poet sit and write,
The learned astronomer survey the night;
57
Lulled to his slumber by the murmuring stream:
But streams and woods, and waterfalls and flowers,
Lovers' retreats, rich lawns, and shady bowers,
Have all been sung in lovers' verse so fine,
No room is left to hold another line.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |