Original poems on several subjects In two volumes. By William Stevenson |
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Written in an Arbour at the foot of a Garden.
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 | Original poems on several subjects |  |
Written in an Arbour at the foot of a Garden.
Time, Morning.
Scriptorum chorus omnis amat nemus, ac fugit urbes.
Hor.
Hor.
Here the wide orchard's bending branches meet,
Loading the zephyr's aromatic wing
With each soft odour, each ambrosial sweet,
That fruit affords, or blossoms in the Spring.
Loading the zephyr's aromatic wing
With each soft odour, each ambrosial sweet,
That fruit affords, or blossoms in the Spring.
301
From hence, a long inclosure leads you o'er
A carpet wove in Summer's softest loom,
Embroider'd with fresh flow'rs, a copious store,
To a vast solemn wood's majestic gloom.
A carpet wove in Summer's softest loom,
Embroider'd with fresh flow'rs, a copious store,
To a vast solemn wood's majestic gloom.
Deep in the green retirements of the shade,
The tenants of the air their concerts hold,
When on the eye the glimm'ring landscapes fade,
Or when Aurora streaks the clouds with gold:
The tenants of the air their concerts hold,
When on the eye the glimm'ring landscapes fade,
Or when Aurora streaks the clouds with gold:
While, standing tip-toe on each airy hill,
Or sitting in her vocal caves around,
Echo, exerting all her mimic skill,
Gives note for note, and answers sound for sound.
Or sitting in her vocal caves around,
Echo, exerting all her mimic skill,
Gives note for note, and answers sound for sound.
This terminates in a wide view of fields,
With cottages and villas interspers'd,
Where Autumn still the golden treasure yields,
And peasants dwell in rural labours vers'd.
With cottages and villas interspers'd,
Where Autumn still the golden treasure yields,
And peasants dwell in rural labours vers'd.
Hail, ye inspiring groves! ye pensive shades!
Ye rising hills! ye gently-sinking vales!
Ye limpid fountains, rills, and sunny glades!
Ye cooing doves! ye incense-wafting gales!
Ye rising hills! ye gently-sinking vales!
Ye limpid fountains, rills, and sunny glades!
Ye cooing doves! ye incense-wafting gales!
302
Hail, ye responsive grots, and tuneful birds!
Ye verdant landscapes, and extended views!
Ye shepherds, fleecy flocks, and lowing herds!
Form'd not less to instruct us, than amuse!
Ye verdant landscapes, and extended views!
Ye shepherds, fleecy flocks, and lowing herds!
Form'd not less to instruct us, than amuse!
He that contemplates Nature, learns the art
Of growing wise, beyond mere common men;
To form the taste, and meliorate the heart,
Without her aid, is more than mortals can.
Of growing wise, beyond mere common men;
To form the taste, and meliorate the heart,
Without her aid, is more than mortals can.
Happy for us, did we the just result
Of simple, obvious, plain experience know,
Which lies not hid in sciences occult,
Superiour to our reason—nor below!
Of simple, obvious, plain experience know,
Which lies not hid in sciences occult,
Superiour to our reason—nor below!
What charming period can with Morn compare,
In smiles yet soften'd Noon's effulgent blush!
How mild the breeze! how fragrant is the air!
How melody inchants us from each bush!
In smiles yet soften'd Noon's effulgent blush!
How mild the breeze! how fragrant is the air!
How melody inchants us from each bush!
Where is the heart, to grateful feelings sear'd,
The breast, against each soft sensation steel'd,
Hard as the tyger's, in wild deserts rear'd,
Whom hunger prompts to range the sanguin'd field;
The breast, against each soft sensation steel'd,
Hard as the tyger's, in wild deserts rear'd,
Whom hunger prompts to range the sanguin'd field;
303
Where is the tongue, like Winter's icy skies,
To ev'ry exquisite sensation cold;
When songs of praise and swelling anthems rise,
Would its according tribute dare with-hold?
To ev'ry exquisite sensation cold;
When songs of praise and swelling anthems rise,
Would its according tribute dare with-hold?
This sweet sequester'd spot, this lone recess,
Not for the palace would the Muse exchange;
The oft'ner we retire, we sin the less,
Vice stalks the royal dome with licens'd range.
Not for the palace would the Muse exchange;
The oft'ner we retire, we sin the less,
Vice stalks the royal dome with licens'd range.
The laurel blooming on the victor's brow,
The gem that sparkles on the monarch's crown,
At this important, this endearing now,
Fades on the eye, or melts like dew-drops down.
The gem that sparkles on the monarch's crown,
At this important, this endearing now,
Fades on the eye, or melts like dew-drops down.
At such an hour of tranquil, bosom-ease,
How Fancy stretches her excursive wing!
How ev'ry object seems intent to please!
Before her darted glance what Edens spring!
How Fancy stretches her excursive wing!
How ev'ry object seems intent to please!
Before her darted glance what Edens spring!
How, ravish'd, to yon solar worlds she flies,
And wanders o'er a shining tract of stars;
Undazzled bears their splendours on her eyes,
Or mounts the axle of their burnish'd cars!
And wanders o'er a shining tract of stars;
Undazzled bears their splendours on her eyes,
Or mounts the axle of their burnish'd cars!
304
Struck with the high original of Man,
For whom such bodies roll stupendous round,
Consistent with the grand Contriver's plan,
Diffusing light to nations without bound!
For whom such bodies roll stupendous round,
Consistent with the grand Contriver's plan,
Diffusing light to nations without bound!
Thus breaking forth in ecstasy of praise,
“Hail, King eternal! hail, Essential Good!
“Jehovah! Lord! Ancient sublime of days!
“How little thy dread essence understood!
“Hail, King eternal! hail, Essential Good!
“Jehovah! Lord! Ancient sublime of days!
“How little thy dread essence understood!
“This ample, superb, this resplendent arch,
“How pregnant with august displays of Thee!
“Pregnant, beyond the nicest human search,
“Where thought can pierce, or telescope can see.”
“How pregnant with august displays of Thee!
“Pregnant, beyond the nicest human search,
“Where thought can pierce, or telescope can see.”
And when for Earth she quits her starry range,
What kindred beauties in succession rise!
Charming vicissitude! delightful change!
The earth no vulgar emblem of the Skies.
What kindred beauties in succession rise!
Charming vicissitude! delightful change!
The earth no vulgar emblem of the Skies.
But still, the charms of structure, colour, size,
Attract mankind, (what elegant as they?)
Not merely to astonish and surprise,
But useful truths, and noblest hints convey.
Attract mankind, (what elegant as they?)
Not merely to astonish and surprise,
But useful truths, and noblest hints convey.
305
Morning, for this, with rosy hand unbars
The glowing portals of the eastern skies;
While Heav'n's blue vault no longer shines with stars,
That grace the silver Moon's effulgent rise.
The glowing portals of the eastern skies;
While Heav'n's blue vault no longer shines with stars,
That grace the silver Moon's effulgent rise.
Obscurely mantled in her sable robe,
For this still Night her jasper throne ascends,
And scatters poppies round a tranquil globe,
While man in Sleep's soft arms his toil suspends.
For this still Night her jasper throne ascends,
And scatters poppies round a tranquil globe,
While man in Sleep's soft arms his toil suspends.
For this, those elms in verdant state ascend,
Semblance of true ambition, to the skies;
Those honey-suckles their soft twists extend,
Emblem of faithful Friendship's sacred ties.
Semblance of true ambition, to the skies;
Those honey-suckles their soft twists extend,
Emblem of faithful Friendship's sacred ties.
How charming is the umbrage these compose,
With osiers, ivy, and espaliers mix'd!
Whose still deep calm seems to resemble those,
Whose minds serene, whose purposes are fix'd.
With osiers, ivy, and espaliers mix'd!
Whose still deep calm seems to resemble those,
Whose minds serene, whose purposes are fix'd.
Here may we study the historic page,
Converse with thousands many ages dead;
The conquerour, the statesman, and the sage,
Acquiring knowledge at the fountain-head.
Converse with thousands many ages dead;
The conquerour, the statesman, and the sage,
Acquiring knowledge at the fountain-head.
306
In what a glorious light will such appear,
As bravely fought when Liberty inspir'd!
Control'd the Tyrant in his mad career,
By Patriotism's gen'rous ardours fir'd!
As bravely fought when Liberty inspir'd!
Control'd the Tyrant in his mad career,
By Patriotism's gen'rous ardours fir'd!
How charming here to paint the sylvan scene,
With Hervey, or the deep sequester'd shade;
Paint the vermilion'd morn, or eve serene,
The fretted grotto, or abrupt cascade!
With Hervey, or the deep sequester'd shade;
Paint the vermilion'd morn, or eve serene,
The fretted grotto, or abrupt cascade!
Or, when the landscape fades upon the eye,
And Night o'er all her raven mantle throws;
With him to read the lectures of the sky,
Where ev'ry orb big with instruction glows.
And Night o'er all her raven mantle throws;
With him to read the lectures of the sky,
Where ev'ry orb big with instruction glows.
Or, with an eye of scrutiny exact,
The human structure curiously survey;
Each slender nerve, each nice-form'd tube inspect,
What half so exquisitely form'd as they?
The human structure curiously survey;
Each slender nerve, each nice-form'd tube inspect,
What half so exquisitely form'd as they?
Nor fail to wander through the featur'd mind,
Each thought examine, and each motive scan,
Which, as averse to Virtue, or inclin'd,
Prove what an angel, or a fiend, is man.
Each thought examine, and each motive scan,
Which, as averse to Virtue, or inclin'd,
Prove what an angel, or a fiend, is man.
307
Young next might paint that most tremendous scene,
When from their beds of dust mankind shall rise,
With troubled aspect, or with brow serene,
To meet the mighty Judge of earth and skies.
When from their beds of dust mankind shall rise,
With troubled aspect, or with brow serene,
To meet the mighty Judge of earth and skies.
Whether they fill'd a throne, in purple dress'd,
Circled by slaves on prostituted knee;
Or, only of the lowly crook possess'd,
Tended their flocks along the heathy lea.
Circled by slaves on prostituted knee;
Or, only of the lowly crook possess'd,
Tended their flocks along the heathy lea.
Or, like some seraph, tune the midnight-song,
While solemn, deep, portentous silence reigns:
Sublimely-soaring bard, to whom belong
Virrue's own feelings, sentiments, and lays!
While solemn, deep, portentous silence reigns:
Sublimely-soaring bard, to whom belong
Virrue's own feelings, sentiments, and lays!
With Sherlock too, how pleasing to retire
Among the letter'd tomb-stones of the dead!
Gaze—read—pause—sigh and rev'rently inquire,
Not dumb with anguish, but devoutly glad.
Among the letter'd tomb-stones of the dead!
Gaze—read—pause—sigh and rev'rently inquire,
Not dumb with anguish, but devoutly glad.
Upon the grave the more we calmly think,
And make the shroud familiar to our view,
In Death's cold arms less fearful shall we sink,
And bid Life's empty vanities adieu.
And make the shroud familiar to our view,
In Death's cold arms less fearful shall we sink,
And bid Life's empty vanities adieu.
308
This moment we inspire the vital breath,
Taste all those pleasures Youth or Health can give;
The next, resign it at the call of death,
Then truly born, eternally to live.
Taste all those pleasures Youth or Health can give;
The next, resign it at the call of death,
Then truly born, eternally to live.
If Virtue in her paths their footsteps led,
If lively Faith beam'd in their closing eyes;
If bless'd Religion smooth'd their dying bed,
They fled but to their mansion in the skies.
If lively Faith beam'd in their closing eyes;
If bless'd Religion smooth'd their dying bed,
They fled but to their mansion in the skies.
But if (O Charity! forgive the thought)
Through Errour's devious tracts they heedless stray'd,
Blind votaries to Vice; then they were caught
From earth, lest their demerit blacker made.
Through Errour's devious tracts they heedless stray'd,
Blind votaries to Vice; then they were caught
From earth, lest their demerit blacker made.
Here too immur'd, how pleasing to forget
That Vice and Errour lord it o'er mankind!
That Virtue has not learn'd to triumph yet,
Nor amongst thousands one true friend can find!
That Vice and Errour lord it o'er mankind!
That Virtue has not learn'd to triumph yet,
Nor amongst thousands one true friend can find!
How pleasing to forget, that Merit pines
In poverty and scorn, while titled Pride,
In palaces, with mean Corruption, shines,
By Flattery courted, and with envy ey'd!
In poverty and scorn, while titled Pride,
In palaces, with mean Corruption, shines,
By Flattery courted, and with envy ey'd!
309
Their chance of Heav'n men barter for a place,
That breach of modes, not laws, provokes offence!
That Nature gives to Affectation place,
And Impudence supplies the room of sense!
That breach of modes, not laws, provokes offence!
That Nature gives to Affectation place,
And Impudence supplies the room of sense!
As serpents wise, not harmless as the dove,
That only Goodness mankind never charms!
That Gold usurps the tender rights of Love,
Beauty condemn'd to mercenary arms!
That only Goodness mankind never charms!
That Gold usurps the tender rights of Love,
Beauty condemn'd to mercenary arms!
That Friendship's a mere sound, that nothing means
But self, poor niggard self, in smooth disguise!
That, while on Pity's breast Misfortune leans,
She falls, her stay withdrawn, no more to rise!
But self, poor niggard self, in smooth disguise!
That, while on Pity's breast Misfortune leans,
She falls, her stay withdrawn, no more to rise!
That now Religion little else imports,
But sleeping sound, or ogling, in a pew!
That Adoration now-a-days resorts
But to the play, assembly, or the stew!
But sleeping sound, or ogling, in a pew!
That Adoration now-a-days resorts
But to the play, assembly, or the stew!
Come then, Forgetfulness, whose magic pow'r
Things quick to non-existence can command;
Come, fit companion for the silent hour,
When thought distracts, or ghosts before us stand,
Things quick to non-existence can command;
Come, fit companion for the silent hour,
When thought distracts, or ghosts before us stand,
310
But oft as this delightful gloom inspires
The virtuous, tender, manly, gen'rous thought,
Which, while the heart it betters, never tires,
Away, by forlorn anxious lovers sought.
The virtuous, tender, manly, gen'rous thought,
Which, while the heart it betters, never tires,
Away, by forlorn anxious lovers sought.
| Original poems on several subjects | |