Malvern Hills with Minor Poems, and Essays. By Joseph Cottle. Fourth Edition |
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WRITTEN IN AN ARBOUR AT TOCKINGTON. |
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 | Malvern Hills |  |
LINES WRITTEN IN AN ARBOUR AT TOCKINGTON.
ARBOUR! form'd for meditation,
Where I, musing, now recline;
Friendship's lays thy walls encircle!
Fragrant woodbines round thee twine.
Where I, musing, now recline;
Friendship's lays thy walls encircle!
Fragrant woodbines round thee twine.
Here, the zephyr, gently breathing,
Wafts its balmy sweets along;
Here, the distant wild-note warbling,
Charms the ear with nature's song.
Wafts its balmy sweets along;
Here, the distant wild-note warbling,
Charms the ear with nature's song.
Life! thou mystery of creation!
Whilst we see thy myriads fly;
Buzz around, or more aspiring,
Range the blue expanse of sky.
Whilst we see thy myriads fly;
Buzz around, or more aspiring,
Range the blue expanse of sky.
When we gaze with growing wonder
On the tall o'erhanging tree;
Or behold the nodding flowret
Robed in humbler majesty;
On the tall o'erhanging tree;
Or behold the nodding flowret
Robed in humbler majesty;
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Reason asks, perplex'd, revolving,
Whence they came, in fair array;
And if chance, for ends uncertain,
Gave them to the light of day.
Whence they came, in fair array;
And if chance, for ends uncertain,
Gave them to the light of day.
Was it a delusive whisper,
That approach'd me soft and clear?
Hark! again the soothing accent
Gently steals upon mine ear;
That approach'd me soft and clear?
Hark! again the soothing accent
Gently steals upon mine ear;
“Nature through her wide dominion,
“Audible to every mind,
“Calls on man to praise his Maker,
“Ever bounteous, ever kind.
“Audible to every mind,
“Calls on man to praise his Maker,
“Ever bounteous, ever kind.
“He, the universe upholding,
“Smiles when spirits upward tend;
“In the varied works around thee,
“Read thy Father! see thy Friend!”
“Smiles when spirits upward tend;
“In the varied works around thee,
“Read thy Father! see thy Friend!”
| Malvern Hills | |