The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson ... for the first time fully collected and compared with the original and early editions ... edited ... by the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart ... with portrait, illustrations, &c |
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THE RETURN OF SPRING: A SONG. |
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 | The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson |  |
207
THE RETURN OF SPRING: A SONG.
Come, join with me, ye rural swains,
And wake the reed to cheerful strains;
Since Winter now has fled our plains,
With all his rueful store:
No more the frowning, blust'ring sky,
From Greenland's dreary mountains high,
(Where worlds of ice tumultuous lie,)
Extends the mighty roar.
And wake the reed to cheerful strains;
Since Winter now has fled our plains,
With all his rueful store:
No more the frowning, blust'ring sky,
From Greenland's dreary mountains high,
(Where worlds of ice tumultuous lie,)
Extends the mighty roar.
With dark'ning rage o'er yon rude Forth,
No more the chill, bleak-breathing North;
Grim throws the fleecy tempest forth,
Thick thro' the black'ning sky;
Till o'er each hill and sullen vale,
An universal white prevail;
And deep beneath the snowy veil,
The sad creation lie.
No more the chill, bleak-breathing North;
Grim throws the fleecy tempest forth,
Thick thro' the black'ning sky;
Till o'er each hill and sullen vale,
An universal white prevail;
And deep beneath the snowy veil,
The sad creation lie.
The hoary tyrant now has fled,
Young blooming Spring our fields o'erspread;
Hope, wealth, and joy, are by her led,—
An all-enliv'ning train.
Along yon dale, or daisied mead,
Soon as young Morn uplifts her head;
The hind yokes in the willing steed,
Blithe whistling o'er the lawn.
Young blooming Spring our fields o'erspread;
Hope, wealth, and joy, are by her led,—
An all-enliv'ning train.
Along yon dale, or daisied mead,
Soon as young Morn uplifts her head;
The hind yokes in the willing steed,
Blithe whistling o'er the lawn.
The stately grove and thick'ning Wood,
That Winter's frowning blasts withstood;
Unfold the verdant leafy brood,
High-waving in the air.
While o'er the mountain's grassy steep,
Are heard the tender bleating sheep;
Around the wanton lambkins leap,
At once their joy and care.
That Winter's frowning blasts withstood;
Unfold the verdant leafy brood,
High-waving in the air.
208
Are heard the tender bleating sheep;
Around the wanton lambkins leap,
At once their joy and care.
Amid the bow'r, with woodbines wove,
Throughout the flower-enamell'd grove,
The humming bees unwearied rove,
Gay blooming sweets among;
The chearful birds of varied hue,
Their sweet meand'ring notes pursue;
High soars the lark, and lost to view,
Pours forth his grateful song.
Throughout the flower-enamell'd grove,
The humming bees unwearied rove,
Gay blooming sweets among;
The chearful birds of varied hue,
Their sweet meand'ring notes pursue;
High soars the lark, and lost to view,
Pours forth his grateful song.
The wand'ring brook, the glitt'ring rill,
The cuckoo's note heard from the hill,
The warbling thrush and blackbird shrill;
Inspire with rapt'rous glee.
Then join the choir, each nymph and swain,
Thro' ev'ry grove, and flow'ry plain;
Till hills resound the joyful strain,
Harmonious to each tree.
The cuckoo's note heard from the hill,
The warbling thrush and blackbird shrill;
Inspire with rapt'rous glee.
Then join the choir, each nymph and swain,
Thro' ev'ry grove, and flow'ry plain;
Till hills resound the joyful strain,
Harmonious to each tree.
| The poems and literary prose of Alexander Wilson | |