ODE XII.
[Contented I to frame a rurall ode]
1
Contented I to frame a rurall ode,
In humble Shades;
Admire those Swains who in bright Southerne Glades
Doe make abode;
And Caroll high to Fame, with mounting Qvill:
My obscure Groves best suit my humble Skill.
2
Let me vnto the fameles Deviae's Shore,
Low Accents frame;
Vnenvied in my ffate, or in my ffame;
And raise my Store
ffrom noe man's Harvest; but a Stocke produce
ffrom native bounties, to enrich my Muse.
3
And run, with changing Chords, as ffancie gvides,
To everie new
Obiect of Chance; which wee will more pursue,
The more it slides;
And gather a fresh Stocke, from all wee see;
Our numbers Chargéd in varietie.
4
My Temples bound, not in a wreath of bay;
(For be it farre
From my free Thought, soe high Attempt to dare)
But humble Hay;
May rest secure; and if I be content
My ffate is better, ffame as Eminent.
5
There will I sing, vast Nature in her Store;
And sing the Power
Which gives to Nature all her wealth; the bower
Of All (and more)
Perfection; where all fullnes doth remaine;
Parent to Nature, who doth All sustaine.
6
Nature, made faire in all her best Attire,
Brings it from hence;
Her weakest Ray, her beames of Excellence,
Shoot from one fire;
And not her lest production but doth Stand
A powerfull wittnes of his mightie Hand.
7
As Life and fforme did from his breath proceed,
In the same way
Comes Sence-depriveing Death, and Sharpe Decay.
Wee doe not tread
But a fresh wonder rises, to display
Its beauties; Sparkes from the Eternall Ray.
8
A thousand Times I contemplate his Store,
In earthlie Things;
I yet rise higher, and my Iudgment brings
A Thousand more;
Yet treebled, and I looke vpon the Sun
To gather new, and end where I begun.
9
There is noe Day soe Sad, noe night soe Dull,
But I can meet
Ten miriads of wonder; and forget
That I am full;
From nothing (be it scorned) but I can gather,
A Praise vnto this vniversall Father.
10
Hee rules the ruleing Monarchs of the Earth,
And Peasants poore;
The crawling Emmets have from him their Store;
Lions their Birth;
The Royall Eagle flyes but by his might;
And Hee secures the Sillie Sparrowe's flight.
11
The mightie Cedar getts from him his Sap;
And Shrubs their Iuice;
The Rose and Lillie flourish by his Deawes;
Nettles, by hap,
Come not to seed, but by the Influence
Which He, to everie Creature, doth dispence.
