 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
94
The Resolution broke.
Stunn'd with the Clamours of the noisy Town,
The Muse her humblest Vot'ry did disown:
From sad Maria's Breast she took her Flight,
And charg'd the pensive Maid no more to write:
I heard the Charge, which was pronounc'd aloud,
And strait a lasting firm Obedience vow'd.
Yet one Half-day from Smoke and Strife remov'd,
To tread the Earth and breathe the Air I lov'd,
I felt a Pow'r, too strong to be supprest,
Move with poetick Rapture in my Breast.
Scenes all-transporting set my Soul on fire,
And Fields and Meads their wonted Thoughts inspire.
Each fruitful Hedge inviting Themes supplies,
“In ev'ry Field harmonious Numbers rise.
The Muse her humblest Vot'ry did disown:
From sad Maria's Breast she took her Flight,
And charg'd the pensive Maid no more to write:
I heard the Charge, which was pronounc'd aloud,
And strait a lasting firm Obedience vow'd.
Yet one Half-day from Smoke and Strife remov'd,
To tread the Earth and breathe the Air I lov'd,
I felt a Pow'r, too strong to be supprest,
Move with poetick Rapture in my Breast.
Scenes all-transporting set my Soul on fire,
And Fields and Meads their wonted Thoughts inspire.
Each fruitful Hedge inviting Themes supplies,
“In ev'ry Field harmonious Numbers rise.
95
Here the green Wheat dispos'd in even Rows
(A pleasing View!) on genial Ridges grows,
It's cluster'd Heads on lofty Spires ascend,
And frequent with delightful Wavings bend;
There younger Barley shoots a tender Blade,
And spreads a level Plain with verdant Shade.
The wreathing Pea extends its bloomy Pride,
And flow'ry Borders smile on either side.
(A pleasing View!) on genial Ridges grows,
It's cluster'd Heads on lofty Spires ascend,
And frequent with delightful Wavings bend;
There younger Barley shoots a tender Blade,
And spreads a level Plain with verdant Shade.
The wreathing Pea extends its bloomy Pride,
And flow'ry Borders smile on either side.
Whate'er I see, does Admiration draw,
And strikes my Soul with a religious awe.
The annual Offspring of the pregnant Year
Does well the great Creator's Love declare.
For our Support the Field produces Bread,
And 'tis for Us the flow'ry Scene is spread.
In all his Works his Providence I scan,
His never-ceasing Care to thankless Man.
Prostrate on Earth, myself I humbly fling,
In Adoration of th' Almighty King.
My grateful Heart dissolves in mental Pray'r,
And Thoughts too big for Words are lab'ring there.
Again I rise from off the fertile Ground,
Again I view the pleasing Prospects round.
Where-e'er I turn, instructive Scenes arise,
And with new Wonders meet my ravish'd Eyes.
The feather'd Songsters well deserve a Lay,
And murm'ring Streams in flowing Verse should stray.
And strikes my Soul with a religious awe.
The annual Offspring of the pregnant Year
Does well the great Creator's Love declare.
For our Support the Field produces Bread,
And 'tis for Us the flow'ry Scene is spread.
In all his Works his Providence I scan,
His never-ceasing Care to thankless Man.
96
In Adoration of th' Almighty King.
My grateful Heart dissolves in mental Pray'r,
And Thoughts too big for Words are lab'ring there.
Again I rise from off the fertile Ground,
Again I view the pleasing Prospects round.
Where-e'er I turn, instructive Scenes arise,
And with new Wonders meet my ravish'd Eyes.
The feather'd Songsters well deserve a Lay,
And murm'ring Streams in flowing Verse should stray.
But hold the pleasing Lyre must be unstrung,
And thousand Beauties must remain unsung:
For should I thro' each gaudy Meadow rove,
And paint the vary'd Greens in ev'ry Grove,
Sing with each Bird, and purl with ev'ry Stream,
I might enlarge, but never end my Theme.
And thousand Beauties must remain unsung:
For should I thro' each gaudy Meadow rove,
And paint the vary'd Greens in ev'ry Grove,
Sing with each Bird, and purl with ev'ry Stream,
I might enlarge, but never end my Theme.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |