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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WINTER.
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 | Juvenilia |  |
146
WINTER.
Hark! 'twas dark Winter's sullen voice,
That told the glooms that reign'd;
That bade the plains no more rejoice,
And all the waves be chain'd!
That told the glooms that reign'd;
That bade the plains no more rejoice,
And all the waves be chain'd!
And see green Autumn dies away;
The pallid sire is come!
The plains his shiv'ring rules obey,
And ev'ry wave is dumb!
The pallid sire is come!
The plains his shiv'ring rules obey,
And ev'ry wave is dumb!
Yet still with cheerful heart I pace
The whiten'd vale below:
And smile at every printed trace
I leave upon the snow.
The whiten'd vale below:
And smile at every printed trace
I leave upon the snow.
Thus (soft I whisper to my breast,)
Man treads life's weary waste;
Each step that leads to better rest
Forgot as soon as past!
Man treads life's weary waste;
Each step that leads to better rest
Forgot as soon as past!
147
For what is life and all its bliss?
The splendour of a fly;
The breathing of the morning's kiss;
A summer's flushing sky.
The splendour of a fly;
The breathing of the morning's kiss;
A summer's flushing sky.
Dismantled lies the gaudy fly;
Morn droops at Evening's frown;
And Summer tho' so gay her eye,
Tempestuous terrors crown!
Morn droops at Evening's frown;
And Summer tho' so gay her eye,
Tempestuous terrors crown!
Yes, Lord; but shoots no gladd'ning day
Thro' this nocturnal scene?
Decks not one gem of lively ray
Grief's darksome wave unseen?
Thro' this nocturnal scene?
Decks not one gem of lively ray
Grief's darksome wave unseen?
How sweet the evergreen beguiles
The gloom of yonder snow!
Thus Virtue cheers, with endless smiles,
Life's wintry waste of Woe.
The gloom of yonder snow!
Thus Virtue cheers, with endless smiles,
Life's wintry waste of Woe.
Howl then, ye storms; ye tempests, beat
Round this unshrinking head!
I know a sweet, a soft retreat
In Virtue's peaceful shed!
Round this unshrinking head!
I know a sweet, a soft retreat
In Virtue's peaceful shed!
148
Drive down, ye hails; pour, snows and winds,
Pale terror where I stray!
My foot a path, yet verdant finds
Where Virtue smooths the way!
Pale terror where I stray!
My foot a path, yet verdant finds
Where Virtue smooths the way!
O Thou, by whose all-gracious hand
The cherub Mercy stands.
Smiling at each divine command,
With fondness o'er the lands;
The cherub Mercy stands.
Smiling at each divine command,
With fondness o'er the lands;
O let me ne'er with marble eye
Pale shiv'ring want reject,
Where mourns the long, the deep-drawn sigh,
The anguish of neglect!
Pale shiv'ring want reject,
Where mourns the long, the deep-drawn sigh,
The anguish of neglect!
While lordly Pride and cushion'd Ease
Petition's tear despise;
O let this hand the mourner raise,
And wipe her streaming eyes!
Petition's tear despise;
O let this hand the mourner raise,
And wipe her streaming eyes!
When Death shall call me to my Lord,
To bow beneath his throne;
His praise be the divine reward,
That charity has won.
To bow beneath his throne;
His praise be the divine reward,
That charity has won.
149
There, where no wintry storms affright,
No tempests shake the pole;
No gloomy shades of dreary night
Appall the waking soul;
No tempests shake the pole;
No gloomy shades of dreary night
Appall the waking soul;
There, let me ever hymn, adore,
And love th' immortal King;
Love, while dread Winter breaks no more
Th' eternity of Spring!
And love th' immortal King;
Love, while dread Winter breaks no more
Th' eternity of Spring!
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