 | The Poetical Works of John Scott |  |
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ODE XXVI. THE PLEASANT EVENING.
Delightful looks this clear, calm sky,
With Cynthia's silver orb on high;
Delightful looks this smooth green ground,
With shadows cast from cots around:
Quick-twinkling lustre decks the tide;
And chearful radiance gently falls
On that white town, and castle walls,
That crown the spacious river's further side.
With Cynthia's silver orb on high;
Delightful looks this smooth green ground,
With shadows cast from cots around:
Quick-twinkling lustre decks the tide;
And chearful radiance gently falls
On that white town, and castle walls,
That crown the spacious river's further side.
And now along the echoing hills
The night-bird's strain melodious trills;
And now the echoing dale along
Soft flows the shepherd's tuneful song:
And now, wide o'er the water borne,
The city's mingled murmur swells,
And lively change of distant bells,
And varied warbling of the deep-ton'd horn.
The night-bird's strain melodious trills;
And now the echoing dale along
Soft flows the shepherd's tuneful song:
And now, wide o'er the water borne,
The city's mingled murmur swells,
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And varied warbling of the deep-ton'd horn.
Their influence calms the soften'd soul,
The passions feel their strong controul:
While Fancy's eye, where'er it strays,
A scene of happiness surveys;
Thro' all the various walks of life
No natural ill nor moral sees,
No Famine fell, nor dire Disease,
Nor War's infernal unrelenting strife.
The passions feel their strong controul:
While Fancy's eye, where'er it strays,
A scene of happiness surveys;
Thro' all the various walks of life
No natural ill nor moral sees,
No Famine fell, nor dire Disease,
Nor War's infernal unrelenting strife.
For these, behold a heavenly band
Their white wings waving o'er the land!
Sweet Innocence, a cherub fair;
And Peace and Joy, a sister pair:
And Kindness mild, their kindred Grace,
Whose brow serene complacence wears,
Whose hand her liberal bounty bears
O'er the vast range of animated space!
Their white wings waving o'er the land!
Sweet Innocence, a cherub fair;
And Peace and Joy, a sister pair:
And Kindness mild, their kindred Grace,
Whose brow serene complacence wears,
Whose hand her liberal bounty bears
O'er the vast range of animated space!
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Blest vision! O for ever stay!
O far be Guilt and Pain away!
And yet, perhaps, with Him, whose view
Looks at one glance creation through,
To general good our partial ill
Seems but a sand upon the plain,
Seems but a drop amid the main,
And some wise unknown purpose may fulfil.
O far be Guilt and Pain away!
And yet, perhaps, with Him, whose view
Looks at one glance creation through,
To general good our partial ill
Seems but a sand upon the plain,
Seems but a drop amid the main,
And some wise unknown purpose may fulfil.
| The Poetical Works of John Scott | |