 | Poems on Various Subjects |  |
156
The ROSE.
See, ye maidens, what a bloom
O'er my healthy cheek's diffus'd!
Smell, ye nymphs, what sweet perfume
From my blushing mouth's produc'd!
O'er my healthy cheek's diffus'd!
Smell, ye nymphs, what sweet perfume
From my blushing mouth's produc'd!
For the Zephyrs here that blow
Free exert their fresh'ning pow'r;
And the brooks that babbling flow
Nourish ev'ry smiling flow'r.
Free exert their fresh'ning pow'r;
And the brooks that babbling flow
Nourish ev'ry smiling flow'r.
Here the sun darts forth his rays,
From all sulph'rous vapours clear;
Here Contentment ever strays;
Tranquil virtues flourish here.
From all sulph'rous vapours clear;
Here Contentment ever strays;
Tranquil virtues flourish here.
But were I to town convey'd,
Stately domes to render gay,
Soon my blushing charms would fade,
And my breathing sweets decay.
Stately domes to render gay,
Soon my blushing charms would fade,
And my breathing sweets decay.
157
Ye who health and beauty prize,
Quick to rural shades retire:
Never hope that artful dyes
Can to rival mine aspire.
Quick to rural shades retire:
Never hope that artful dyes
Can to rival mine aspire.
Never fancy artful gales,
Civet, Marechalle, Otter rare,
To the sweets gay health exhales
In the smallest can compare.
Civet, Marechalle, Otter rare,
To the sweets gay health exhales
In the smallest can compare.
| Poems on Various Subjects | |