A collection of poems on various subjects including the theatre, a didactic essay; in the course of which are pointed out, the rocks and shoals to which deluded adventurers are inevitably exposed. Ornamented with cuts and illustrated with notes, original letters and curious incidental anecdotes [by Samuel Whyte] |
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BELVIDERE.
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 | A collection of poems on various subjects |  |
185
BELVIDERE.
WRITTEN IN THE ABSENCE OF SOME LADIES, ON A PARTY THERE,
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER VTH, MDCCLXXII.
Here every view, hill, vale and grove,
With various wonders grac'd,
The noble owner's judgment prove,
His genius, and his taste.
With various wonders grac'd,
The noble owner's judgment prove,
His genius, and his taste.
Ierne! can thy favour'd race,
Such scenes as these survey,
Yet quit, abandon, scorn, disgrace,
And on thy ruin prey?
Such scenes as these survey,
Yet quit, abandon, scorn, disgrace,
And on thy ruin prey?
Fell paricides! you ought to know,
Tho' deaf to every tie,
'Tis yours to heal your country's woe,
And all defects supply.
Tho' deaf to every tie,
'Tis yours to heal your country's woe,
And all defects supply.
Bright precedents!—first, sweet retreat!
That airy crescent stands,
And shielding off the noontide heat,
The region round commands.
That airy crescent stands,
And shielding off the noontide heat,
The region round commands.
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Thence, deck'd in nature's birth-day green,
Wide stretch the slopy dales;
High o'er the side-long copse between,
The stately lodge prevails.
Wide stretch the slopy dales;
High o'er the side-long copse between,
The stately lodge prevails.
There blithesome swains in russet weed,
Attend their fleecy care,
And all we of Arcadia read,
And Tempè, centers there.
Attend their fleecy care,
And all we of Arcadia read,
And Tempè, centers there.
The lake beyond, capacious lies,
In prospect unconfin'd,
And emblematic to our eyes
Presents his lordship's mind.
In prospect unconfin'd,
And emblematic to our eyes
Presents his lordship's mind.
That pillar'd dome, in rustic style
And Sylvan pomp profuse,
How rich to sight! a cavern'd pile,
For ornament and use.
And Sylvan pomp profuse,
How rich to sight! a cavern'd pile,
For ornament and use.
In the brown umbrage of the wood
If lonely you retire,
There unexpected beauties crowd,
And force you to admire.
If lonely you retire,
There unexpected beauties crowd,
And force you to admire.
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Sequester'd arbours, structures wild,
Root seats and ivy'd cells,
Where poetry, rapt fancy's child,
And contemplation dwells.
Root seats and ivy'd cells,
Where poetry, rapt fancy's child,
And contemplation dwells.
In vain the muse exerts her art
To paint each charming scene;
Grand, copious, just, in every part,
Even Fisher strives in vain.
To paint each charming scene;
Grand, copious, just, in every part,
Even Fisher strives in vain.
Stretch'd on the margin of the brook
That babbles idly by,
With pipe, and scrip, and dog, and crook,
How bless'd might Colin lie!
That babbles idly by,
With pipe, and scrip, and dog, and crook,
How bless'd might Colin lie!
Or on the borders of the lake,
With softly pensive tread,
His Phoebe arm in arm might take,
And woo the blushing maid.
With softly pensive tread,
His Phoebe arm in arm might take,
And woo the blushing maid.
Haply in this o'erhanging bow'r
Deceive the live long day;
Oft steal a kiss, her looks devour,
And breathe his soul away.—
Deceive the live long day;
Oft steal a kiss, her looks devour,
And breathe his soul away.—
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But great and wondrous, Belvidere!
Tho' all thy beauties grant;
Tho' art and nature triumph here;
Yet still we something want.
Tho' all thy beauties grant;
Tho' art and nature triumph here;
Yet still we something want.
We something want!—what can you mean
Where such perfection's shown?
'Tis plain; no female gilds the scene;
Man should not be alone.
Where such perfection's shown?
'Tis plain; no female gilds the scene;
Man should not be alone.
In Paradise, we thus conceive,
Unbless'd was Adam found,
'Till, N---t like, accomplish'd Eve
His social ardour crown'd.
Unbless'd was Adam found,
'Till, N---t like, accomplish'd Eve
His social ardour crown'd.
| A collection of poems on various subjects | |