 | My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays |  |
78
INSCRIPTIONS. Intended for a little Island upon the Schuylkill, belonging to the proprietor of the Woodlands; at whose request the following were hastily written.
FOR A SARCOPHAGUS, ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF SHENSTONE, BY WILLIAM HAMILTON, ESQ.
While curious art and careless nature smile,Thy memory, Shenstone, claims this fairy isle;
Seen like a gem amid the clasping wave,
Where lavish'd wealth such emerald lustre gave,
Thy muse demands! and kindred taste bestows,
Haunts where the loves in shadowy calm repose.
Or in the living blush of beauty shine,
On scenes as graced, and hearts as charmed as thine.
Each woodland warbler seems his groves among,
To chaunt thy requiem in a richer song.
While thy enamoured spirit, hovering near,
Finds of thy life THE INSPIRING GENIUS here.
FOR AN ARBOUR, OR RUSTIC SEAT ON THE ISLAND.
Stranger, this green and graced retreat,
Spreads all its wealth for thee,
Be thine the richly pictured scene,
Hill, valley, walk, and tree.
Spreads all its wealth for thee,
Be thine the richly pictured scene,
Hill, valley, walk, and tree.
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Thine be yon smoothly winding stream,
Whose silent waters move,
Unruffled as a good man's breast,
Reflecting heaven above.
Whose silent waters move,
Unruffled as a good man's breast,
Reflecting heaven above.
Or thine the tossing tide, so fond
Its golden curls to raise,
When touched by day's departing flame,
It sparkling, seems to blaze.
Its golden curls to raise,
When touched by day's departing flame,
It sparkling, seems to blaze.
Thine, if by taste and nature won,
These to thy glance appear
In all the beauties genius gave,
To plant attraction here.
These to thy glance appear
In all the beauties genius gave,
To plant attraction here.
Hast thou a soul to feeling true,
Stay, Wanderer, nor depart,
A nobler gift meets thy regard,
Even his, the Patron's heart.
Stay, Wanderer, nor depart,
A nobler gift meets thy regard,
Even his, the Patron's heart.
| My Mind and its Thoughts, in Sketches, Fragments, and Essays | |