The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq In two volumes. With Decorations. The fourth edition |
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VERSES written towards the close of the Year 1748, to William Lyttelton, Esq |
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 | The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq |  |
176
VERSES written towards the close of the Year 1748, to William Lyttelton, Esq
How blithely pass'd the summer's day!
How bright was every flow'r!
While friends arriv'd, in circles gay,
To visit Damon's bow'r!
How bright was every flow'r!
While friends arriv'd, in circles gay,
To visit Damon's bow'r!
But now, with silent step, I range
Along some lonely shore;
And Damon's bow'r, alas the change!
Is gay with friends no more.
Along some lonely shore;
And Damon's bow'r, alas the change!
Is gay with friends no more.
Away to crowds and cities borne
In quest of joy they steer;
Whilst I, alas! am left forlorn,
To weep the parting year!
In quest of joy they steer;
Whilst I, alas! am left forlorn,
To weep the parting year!
O pensive Autumn! how I grieve
Thy sorrowing face to see!
When languid suns are taking leave
Of every drooping tree.
Thy sorrowing face to see!
When languid suns are taking leave
Of every drooping tree.
Ah let me not, with heavy eye,
This dying scene survey!
Haste, winter, haste; usurp the sky;
Compleat my bow'r's decay.
This dying scene survey!
Haste, winter, haste; usurp the sky;
Compleat my bow'r's decay.
177
Ill can I bear the motley cast
Yon sickening leaves retain;
That speak at once of pleasure past,
And bode approaching pain.
Yon sickening leaves retain;
That speak at once of pleasure past,
And bode approaching pain.
At home unblest, I gaze around,
My distant scenes require;
Where all in murky vapours drown'd
Are hamlet, hill, and spire.
My distant scenes require;
Where all in murky vapours drown'd
Are hamlet, hill, and spire.
Tho' Thomson, sweet descriptive bard!
Inspiring Autumn sung;
Yet how should we the months regard,
That stopp'd his flowing tongue?
Inspiring Autumn sung;
Yet how should we the months regard,
That stopp'd his flowing tongue?
Ah luckless months, of all the rest,
To whose hard share it fell!
For sure he was the gentlest breast
That ever sung so well.
To whose hard share it fell!
For sure he was the gentlest breast
That ever sung so well.
And see, the swallows now disown
The roofs they lov'd before;
Each, like his tuneful genius, flown
To glad some happier shore.
The roofs they lov'd before;
Each, like his tuneful genius, flown
To glad some happier shore.
The wood-nymph eyes, with pale affright,
The sportsman's frantic deed;
While hounds and horns and yells unite
To drown the muse's reed.
The sportsman's frantic deed;
While hounds and horns and yells unite
To drown the muse's reed.
178
Ye fields with blighted herbage brown,
Ye skies no longer blue!
Too much we feel from fortune's frown,
To bear these frowns from you.
Ye skies no longer blue!
Too much we feel from fortune's frown,
To bear these frowns from you.
Where is the mead's unsullied green?
The zephyr's balmy gale?
And where sweet friendship's cordial mien,
That brighten'd every vale?
The zephyr's balmy gale?
And where sweet friendship's cordial mien,
That brighten'd every vale?
What tho' the vine disclose her dyes,
And boast her purple store;
Not all the vine-yard's rich supplies
Can soothe our sorrows more.
And boast her purple store;
Not all the vine-yard's rich supplies
Can soothe our sorrows more.
He! he is gone, whose moral strain
Could wit and mirth refine;
He! he is gone, whose social vein
Surpass'd the pow'r of wine.
Could wit and mirth refine;
He! he is gone, whose social vein
Surpass'd the pow'r of wine.
Fast by the streams he deign'd to praise,
In yon sequester'd grove,
To him a votive urn I raise;
To him, and friendly love.
In yon sequester'd grove,
To him a votive urn I raise;
To him, and friendly love.
Yes there, my friend! forlorn and sad,
I grave your Thomson's name;
And there, his lyre; which fate forbad
To sound your growing fame.
I grave your Thomson's name;
And there, his lyre; which fate forbad
To sound your growing fame.
179
There shall my plaintive song recount
Dark themes of hopeless woe;
And faster than the dropping fount,
I'll teach mine eyes to flow.
Dark themes of hopeless woe;
And faster than the dropping fount,
I'll teach mine eyes to flow.
There leaves, in spite of Autumn green,
Shall shade the hallow'd ground;
And Spring will there again be seen,
To call forth flow'rs around.
Shall shade the hallow'd ground;
And Spring will there again be seen,
To call forth flow'rs around.
But no kind suns will bid me share,
Once more, his social hour;
Ah Spring! thou never can'st repair
This loss, to Damon's bow'r.
Once more, his social hour;
Ah Spring! thou never can'st repair
This loss, to Damon's bow'r.
| The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq | |