Miscellaneous Pieces in Verse and Prose, By Theodosia [i.e. Anne Steele] |
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Ode on a rural Prospect in June.
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 | Miscellaneous Pieces |  |
Ode on a rural Prospect in June.
I.
At length she deigns, (indulgent power!)To bless the solitary hour:
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My passions own thy soft controul;
Welcome to my grateful breast,
Sooth my every care to rest;
O pour thy kindest influence on my soul!
II.
Touch the sweet, the charming lyre,Tis thine to harmonize the mind!
Thou canst calm delight inspire;
Exalted pleasure, joy refin'd!
Thy lov'd employ thy darling theme
My panting soul aspires to try;
To sing the great the glorious name
Who gives thee all thy pleasing art
To calm to animate the heart;
Creation's lord, and sovereign of the sky!
III.
But aim not, my ambitious song,To rise with Milton, or with Young,
To whom Urania brought celestial fire;
A living ray from heaven's immortal choir,
That darted through the solid veil of night:
Inspiring ray, that bade them soar
Where mortals never rose before,
While nature wonder'd at the daring flight.
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VI.
Unequal to so bold a choice,A humbler, safer lot be mine!
Urania, tune my trembling voice
To subjects less exalted, yet divine!
Thy softest, gentlest aid impart,
Teach, O teach my longing heart
To trace the radiant footsteps of the God;
To the mind's enraptur'd eyes
Where his milder glories rise,
O'er nature's ample frame diffus'd abroad!
V.
Nature, o'er her ample frameShews her great creator's name
Inscrib'd in characters divine!
Every plant, and every flower
Speak his wisdom, goodness, power:
With sweet attractive lustre how they shine!
Ye beauteous scenes, 'tis yours to show
The hand from whence your blessings flow:
To wonder, love, adore, and praise be mine!
VI.
While yonder wide-extended fields,With eager gaze my eye surveys;
The scene a thousand beauties yields,
A thousand blessings claim my praise.
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With hand profuse, her richest stores!
A lively green arrays the scene,
Impearl'd with soft-descending showers:
Fair vegetation smiles around,
By kindly rains and sunshine fed;
The fertile vales, with beauty crown'd,
Nurse, with indulgent care, the future bread.
VII.
Ye diffident, desponding hearts,Who forward look with anxious pain,
See, how the hand of providence imparts
Its constant kindness to the foodful grain!
And shall the power that bids the teeming earth
Produce the infant-blade, that bids arise
To full maturity, the tender birth,
Look down on you with less regardful eyes?
VIII.
Hark! how the birds sweet-warbling from the spray,Enjoy the bounties of the present day:
Their future food, the hedge or wood,
Directed by that gracious hand, provides,
Which with paternal care all nature guides.
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And leave to heaven, to-morrow's care;
Enjoy the present, hope for more;
The power who hears the birds, will hear your prayer.
IX.
Ye trembling souls, with fear opprest,On whose enfeebled, fainting thought
Hang heavy clouds, with sorrow fraught;
See, smiling hope appear, (celestial guest!)
She speaks, her gentle voice attend!
“No more to earth, ye mourners bend,
“Raise your downcast, weeping eyes,
“See what cheerful prospects rise!
“The corn now ripening in the ear,
“Declares a plenteous harvest near.
“Long has expectant toil, with patience stay'd!
“At length behold expectant toil repaid!
“And shall your weary spirit faint?
“Your nobler expectations die?
“Let patience soften your complaint!
“Trust in his word who rules the earth and sky:
“That sure, that never-failing word declares,
“That those shall reap in joy, who sow in tears.”
X.
Kind hope, the mourner's faithful friend,Thy peace-inspiring lore
O let my drooping heart attend,
And while I trust adore!
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That bids through grief's dark shade, thy comforts shine!
That bids, amid this vale of tears,
Flowers of celestial fragrance rise,
That guides, defends, sustains, and cheers,
And points to fairer scenes beyond the skies!
XI.
Lord of my life! to thee I oweA thousand gifts enjoy'd below,
Of providence and grace:
While nature in her various forms,
My heart enlivens, raises, warms;
Thy hand, O bid my heart with rapture trace!
From thy kind hand, my ever-gracious Lord,
Unnumber'd blessings daily, hourly flow;
To crown them all, does not thy sacred word
Bid hope celestial in my bosom glow?
What more have I to wish? that hope divine,
And faith (kind seraph!) may be ever nigh!
Beneath their influence may my heart refine,
Till the fair dawn of heavenly day
Diffuse its soul-attracting ray,
Disperse the shades, and fix my longing eye,
On scenes of perfect bliss beyond the sky.
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