 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
140
A Journey from Otley to Wakefield.
From
Otley, now, our destin'd Course we steer,
Contentious Town, to Lawyers ever dear.
To the rough Chiver, first our Way we bend
Its rocky Path by slow Degrees ascend;
Whilst murm'ring Rivulets, on either side,
Down the steep Hill precipitately glide.
Then, having gain'd the Mountain's lofty Brow,
With Pleasure we survey the Vales below.
What vast Variety the Prospect yields,
Of Rocks, and Woods, and Lawns, and flow'ry Fields!
Like one large Garden, the whole Dale appears,
Laid out in fair Enclosures, like Parterres.
The winding Wharf, the diff'rent Shades of Green,
Houses and Hills diversify the Scene.
Oh! could my Thoughts in rising Numbers flow,
Sprightly as Wharf, and as delightful too:
Strong but yet clear the wand'ring Stream should glide,
Rush o'er its stony Bed and pour a Silver Tide,
With diff'rent Courses, thro' the verdant Vale,
The chiefest Beauty of the beauteous Dale.
Contentious Town, to Lawyers ever dear.
To the rough Chiver, first our Way we bend
Its rocky Path by slow Degrees ascend;
Whilst murm'ring Rivulets, on either side,
Down the steep Hill precipitately glide.
Then, having gain'd the Mountain's lofty Brow,
With Pleasure we survey the Vales below.
What vast Variety the Prospect yields,
Of Rocks, and Woods, and Lawns, and flow'ry Fields!
Like one large Garden, the whole Dale appears,
Laid out in fair Enclosures, like Parterres.
141
Houses and Hills diversify the Scene.
Oh! could my Thoughts in rising Numbers flow,
Sprightly as Wharf, and as delightful too:
Strong but yet clear the wand'ring Stream should glide,
Rush o'er its stony Bed and pour a Silver Tide,
With diff'rent Courses, thro' the verdant Vale,
The chiefest Beauty of the beauteous Dale.
But, as we further press our short'ning Way,
The vary'd Scenes more vary'd Charms display,
Whilst the wide Heath in Summer-pride looks gay.
The prickly Furz their grateful Scent disclose,
Which from ten thousand golden Blossoms flows.
From hence the Lark begins his early Songs,
And tow'ring high in Air his Notes prolongs.
Tho', lost to View, his Melody we hear,
Like Magick Sounds it strikes the wond'ring Ear.
So, when departing Saints resign their Breath,
Unwonted Harmony attends their Death:
The ambient Air with heav'nly Musick's fill'd,
And yet the bright Musicians are conceal'd.
The vary'd Scenes more vary'd Charms display,
Whilst the wide Heath in Summer-pride looks gay.
The prickly Furz their grateful Scent disclose,
Which from ten thousand golden Blossoms flows.
From hence the Lark begins his early Songs,
And tow'ring high in Air his Notes prolongs.
142
Like Magick Sounds it strikes the wond'ring Ear.
So, when departing Saints resign their Breath,
Unwonted Harmony attends their Death:
The ambient Air with heav'nly Musick's fill'd,
And yet the bright Musicians are conceal'd.
A narrow Lane, now, gives new pleasing Scenes,
Shady and thick with interweaving Greens;
Where num'rous Birds their gaudy Plumes display,
That dance and flutter on the trembling Spray.
Here tuneful Linnets stretch a warbling Throat,
And answ'ring Linnets catch the falling Note.
Shady and thick with interweaving Greens;
Where num'rous Birds their gaudy Plumes display,
That dance and flutter on the trembling Spray.
Here tuneful Linnets stretch a warbling Throat,
And answ'ring Linnets catch the falling Note.
Still as we pass, fresh Objects of Delight
Adorn the Way, and satisfy the Sight.
Fair Domes and fruitful Fields at once arise,
With mingling Grace, to feast the Trav'ler's Eyes.
I point at That, which Volumes should explain,
And leave the Task for the harmonious Train.
Adorn the Way, and satisfy the Sight.
143
With mingling Grace, to feast the Trav'ler's Eyes.
I point at That, which Volumes should explain,
And leave the Task for the harmonious Train.
At length I breathe sweet Wakefield's purer Air,
That Seat of Joy and kind Relief of Care.
Its lovely Situation I survey,
And still o'er new enchanting Prospects stray.
See! how the fertile Meads lie smiling round,
With fragrant Greens and flow'ry Beauties crown'd.
Enamell'd Hills, high Trees in shady Rows,
A finish'd Landskip near the Town disclose.
A Town with Pleasure and with Wealth supply'd,
By limpid Coldar's navigable Tide.
Yet more than this, superior to the rest,
With sweet Society 'tis highly blest.
Its kind Inhabitants, with winning Art,
Attract the Soul, and captivate the Heart.
Whose Converse, easy, affable, refin'd,
Can both improve, and entertain the Mind.
Whatever can administer Delight,
To glad the Ear, or gratify the Sight.
And make the Hours of Life pass smiling round,
O happy Wakefield! may in Thee be found.
There cou'd I pass the dear Remains of Life,
Remov'd from Care, from Envy and from Strife.
That Seat of Joy and kind Relief of Care.
Its lovely Situation I survey,
And still o'er new enchanting Prospects stray.
See! how the fertile Meads lie smiling round,
With fragrant Greens and flow'ry Beauties crown'd.
Enamell'd Hills, high Trees in shady Rows,
A finish'd Landskip near the Town disclose.
A Town with Pleasure and with Wealth supply'd,
By limpid Coldar's navigable Tide.
Yet more than this, superior to the rest,
With sweet Society 'tis highly blest.
144
Attract the Soul, and captivate the Heart.
Whose Converse, easy, affable, refin'd,
Can both improve, and entertain the Mind.
Whatever can administer Delight,
To glad the Ear, or gratify the Sight.
And make the Hours of Life pass smiling round,
O happy Wakefield! may in Thee be found.
There cou'd I pass the dear Remains of Life,
Remov'd from Care, from Envy and from Strife.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |