 | Miscellaneous poems |  |
66
STORMY EVENING.
The skies a sombre shade assume,
While the chill north-eastern breeze
Serves to heighten ev'ning's gloom,
Howling through the leafless trees.
While the chill north-eastern breeze
Serves to heighten ev'ning's gloom,
Howling through the leafless trees.
Nature wears her robe of white;
Vesper glimmers in the west;
Not one gem has sable night
To grace her brow, or clasp her vest.
Vesper glimmers in the west;
Not one gem has sable night
To grace her brow, or clasp her vest.
Hark! the tempest, loud descending,
Beats against the brittle pane;
In its drifting torrents blending
Fleecy snow, and drenching rain.
Beats against the brittle pane;
In its drifting torrents blending
Fleecy snow, and drenching rain.
67
Now, to banish spleen and vapours,
Bid the fire cheerful blaze;
Bring your book; and let the tapers
Shed around their friendly rays.
Bid the fire cheerful blaze;
Bring your book; and let the tapers
Shed around their friendly rays.
Ope the volume, turn the pages,
Read, and muse, and chat by turns,
How ambition lawless rages,
How the patriot's bosom burns.
Read, and muse, and chat by turns,
How ambition lawless rages,
How the patriot's bosom burns.
Learn from Milton, bard inspir'd,
How, e'en angels could rebel;
From Homer, how, by Grecians fir'd,
Ilium's lofty towers fell.
How, e'en angels could rebel;
From Homer, how, by Grecians fir'd,
Ilium's lofty towers fell.
Now the trav'ller, faint and weary,
Often sighing as he goes,
O'er heaths, through forests, dark and dreary,
Beats against the drifting snows.
Often sighing as he goes,
68
Beats against the drifting snows.
Ears, and cheeks, and fingers tingle,
Tortur'd by the piercing frost;
Scarce he hears his sleigh bells jingle,
Now alas! the track is lost.
Tortur'd by the piercing frost;
Scarce he hears his sleigh bells jingle,
Now alas! the track is lost.
Numbing cold each sense invading,
Checks his pulse, and seals his eyes;
No kind hand the suff'rer aiding,
Buried in the drift, he dies.
Checks his pulse, and seals his eyes;
No kind hand the suff'rer aiding,
Buried in the drift, he dies.
Fancy! whither art thou leading?
Stay! the scene's too painful grown;
I see those friends whose hearts are bleeding,
When the trav'ller's fate is known.
Stay! the scene's too painful grown;
I see those friends whose hearts are bleeding,
When the trav'ller's fate is known.
69
By Him, who has the storm directed,
May each trav'ller, doom'd to roam,
Be through this drear night protected,
And conducted safely home.
May each trav'ller, doom'd to roam,
Be through this drear night protected,
And conducted safely home.
Then, no more the storm regretting,
Fond delight his soul inspire;
Wind, and snow, and cold forgetting,
Chatting round the social fire.
Fond delight his soul inspire;
Wind, and snow, and cold forgetting,
Chatting round the social fire.
| Miscellaneous poems | |