Poems on Various Subjects By John Thelwall. In Two Volumes |
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| RURAL POEMS. |
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 | Poems on Various Subjects |  |
155
RURAL POEMS.
A NOSEGAY.
When Flora wore her gayest vest,
Each meadow breath'd perfume,
In gaudiest flow'rs each hedge-briar drest,
Each hawthorn white with bloom,
Each meadow breath'd perfume,
In gaudiest flow'rs each hedge-briar drest,
Each hawthorn white with bloom,
I wander'd thro' each mead and grove,
The fairest flow'rs to cull,
And visited my gay alcove,
Each sweetest bud to pull.
The fairest flow'rs to cull,
And visited my gay alcove,
Each sweetest bud to pull.
The posie gather'd home I brought,
To grace my fair-one's breast.
Then thus, as teeming Fancy taught,
Each flow'r its worth exprest—
To grace my fair-one's breast.
Then thus, as teeming Fancy taught,
Each flow'r its worth exprest—
For Fancy, who in clouded skies
Pourtrays the varying tale,
Can give each flow'r a voice whose dyes
Enrich the scented vale.
Pourtrays the varying tale,
Can give each flow'r a voice whose dyes
Enrich the scented vale.
156
The ROSE.
See, ye maidens, what a bloom
O'er my healthy cheek's diffus'd!
Smell, ye nymphs, what sweet perfume
From my blushing mouth's produc'd!
O'er my healthy cheek's diffus'd!
Smell, ye nymphs, what sweet perfume
From my blushing mouth's produc'd!
For the Zephyrs here that blow
Free exert their fresh'ning pow'r;
And the brooks that babbling flow
Nourish ev'ry smiling flow'r.
Free exert their fresh'ning pow'r;
And the brooks that babbling flow
Nourish ev'ry smiling flow'r.
Here the sun darts forth his rays,
From all sulph'rous vapours clear;
Here Contentment ever strays;
Tranquil virtues flourish here.
From all sulph'rous vapours clear;
Here Contentment ever strays;
Tranquil virtues flourish here.
But were I to town convey'd,
Stately domes to render gay,
Soon my blushing charms would fade,
And my breathing sweets decay.
Stately domes to render gay,
Soon my blushing charms would fade,
And my breathing sweets decay.
157
Ye who health and beauty prize,
Quick to rural shades retire:
Never hope that artful dyes
Can to rival mine aspire.
Quick to rural shades retire:
Never hope that artful dyes
Can to rival mine aspire.
Never fancy artful gales,
Civet, Marechalle, Otter rare,
To the sweets gay health exhales
In the smallest can compare.
Civet, Marechalle, Otter rare,
To the sweets gay health exhales
In the smallest can compare.
The SPRIG of HAWTHORN.
HERE on my spray the various blossoms view,
Some wide display'd, some clos'd, some op'ning new.
For admiration each prefers her plea;
Hear the pretensions then of all the three.
Some wide display'd, some clos'd, some op'ning new.
For admiration each prefers her plea;
Hear the pretensions then of all the three.
The FULL-BLOWN BLOSSOM.
ALL my beauties display'd to the bright beaming sun,I court ev'ry gazer's regard;
Nor Zephyr's soft kiss e'er attempt I to shun,
Nor my sweets from the bee do I ward.
158
My cheeks by no blushes are stain'd:
I scorn the cold prude, with her maxims severe,
And her looks so demurely restrain'd.
The BUD.
WANTON, loose, imprudent flow'r,
Thus to tempt loud Scandal's pow'r!
Will beholders ever prize
Charms thus offer'd to their eyes?
Thus to tempt loud Scandal's pow'r!
Will beholders ever prize
Charms thus offer'd to their eyes?
Silly blossom, I advise
More thy tender beauties prize;
And, like me, demurely grave,
Close thy sweets enfolded save.
More thy tender beauties prize;
And, like me, demurely grave,
Close thy sweets enfolded save.
All my virgin form, behold,
Robes of vestal white enfold:
Not the sun's far piercing ray
Can my modest charms survey.
Robes of vestal white enfold:
Not the sun's far piercing ray
Can my modest charms survey.
159
Beauties that are most conceal'd
In the most esteem are held:
Admiration then to gain,
Observation's eye restrain.
In the most esteem are held:
Admiration then to gain,
Observation's eye restrain.
The HALF-OPENED BLOSSOM.
LET the broad expanded bloom,
Like a rifled, widow'd flow'r,
On her full-blown charms presume;
Wide display her beauty's pow'r.
Like a rifled, widow'd flow'r,
On her full-blown charms presume;
Wide display her beauty's pow'r.
Let the tender infant's pride
Close her prudish beauties fold;
Immature, her graces hide,
Lest the sun her charms behold.
Close her prudish beauties fold;
Immature, her graces hide,
Lest the sun her charms behold.
Who will wanton beauty prize?
Who admire what's quite conceal'd?
What when clos'd are brightest eyes?
What is wish'd if all's reveal'd?
Who admire what's quite conceal'd?
What when clos'd are brightest eyes?
What is wish'd if all's reveal'd?
160
I nor shun the gazer's sight,
Nor yet court with aspect bold;
On my charms, thus op'ning bright,
Modesty's pure blush behold.
Nor yet court with aspect bold;
On my charms, thus op'ning bright,
Modesty's pure blush behold.
Half my dawning beauties seen,
Make those hid the more desir'd;
Half conceal'd behind the screen,
Make those view'd the more admir'd.
Make those hid the more desir'd;
Half conceal'd behind the screen,
Make those view'd the more admir'd.
The WOODBINES.
CONSCIOUS that we want supporting,
Round the hazle's stems we 'twine;
And, the sun's warm influence courting,
O'er their waving tops recline.
Round the hazle's stems we 'twine;
And, the sun's warm influence courting,
O'er their waving tops recline.
Thus our blossoms far displaying,
O'er the babbling streams are arch'd;
Where the fish, beneath us straying,
By our shades are kept unparch'd.
O'er the babbling streams are arch'd;
Where the fish, beneath us straying,
By our shades are kept unparch'd.
161
Different powers, when thus uniting,
Tend to benefit mankind;
Which, in solitude delighting,
Neither use nor pleasure find.
Tend to benefit mankind;
Which, in solitude delighting,
Neither use nor pleasure find.
The VIOLET.
BY the bramble-clad dyke from the sun's scorching ray
Protected, I bloom on the soft mossy bank,
And the thick foliag'd arms of the hawthorn display
O'er my head their protection from winds bleak and dank.
Thus my sweets all protected, I scent ev'ry gale
That strays thro' the woodlands, or freshens the vale;
And my beauties, thus shelter'd, repay with their smiles
The care of my guardian, and crown all his toils.
Protected, I bloom on the soft mossy bank,
And the thick foliag'd arms of the hawthorn display
O'er my head their protection from winds bleak and dank.
Thus my sweets all protected, I scent ev'ry gale
That strays thro' the woodlands, or freshens the vale;
And my beauties, thus shelter'd, repay with their smiles
The care of my guardian, and crown all his toils.
Ye fair virgin blossoms, who gladden the plain,
Whose sweets are on mountains or meadows display'd,
Nor longer unsocial, unguarded remain,
But seek from love's union a durable shade.
Can your soft-smiling beauties resist or elude
The sun's with'ring heat, or the storm sharp and rude?
See yon king-cups unshelter'd, how swift they decay!
While my beauties defended look smiling and gay.
Whose sweets are on mountains or meadows display'd,
Nor longer unsocial, unguarded remain,
But seek from love's union a durable shade.
Can your soft-smiling beauties resist or elude
The sun's with'ring heat, or the storm sharp and rude?
See yon king-cups unshelter'd, how swift they decay!
While my beauties defended look smiling and gay.
162
The COWSLIP.
O'ER the verdant mead reclining,
With the morning's dew-drops shining,
I the fertile moisture sip,
Sweet as fair Melissa's lip.
With the morning's dew-drops shining,
I the fertile moisture sip,
Sweet as fair Melissa's lip.
Or the purling streamlet courting,
As adown some valley sporting,
Humid treasures it supplies,
Sparkling like Melissa's eyes.
As adown some valley sporting,
Humid treasures it supplies,
Sparkling like Melissa's eyes.
Nature's bounties thus collected,
Those that want are ne'er rejected;
But my sweets are ever free,
To reward the toilsome bee.
Those that want are ne'er rejected;
But my sweets are ever free,
To reward the toilsome bee.
The LILY of the VALLEY.
IN the humid verdant valley,
By a dingle's bushy side,
Unambitiously I dally,
Free from Envy, free from Pride.
By a dingle's bushy side,
Unambitiously I dally,
Free from Envy, free from Pride.
163
Ne'er could Vanity come near me;
Shame ne'er ting'd my cheek with red;
Meek and modestly I bear me,
Bowing still my humble head.
Shame ne'er ting'd my cheek with red;
Meek and modestly I bear me,
Bowing still my humble head.
In the rustic shade contented,
I to grandeur ne'er aspir'd;
Ne'er my humble lot repented;
With ambition ne'er was fir'd.
I to grandeur ne'er aspir'd;
Ne'er my humble lot repented;
With ambition ne'er was fir'd.
Yet from all mishaps to ward me
Prudence lends a constant screen,
Which from envious blights will guard me,
And the sun's too powerful sheen.
Prudence lends a constant screen,
Which from envious blights will guard me,
And the sun's too powerful sheen.
[THUS to Reflection's sober train]
THUS to Reflection's sober train
Each flow'r a lesson gives:
A moralizer on the plain
Each turf and blossom lives.
Each flow'r a lesson gives:
A moralizer on the plain
Each turf and blossom lives.
164
But ah! while from each smiling flow'r
I draw the moral lay,
They droop, they feel the withering pow'r;
They sicken and decay!
I draw the moral lay,
They droop, they feel the withering pow'r;
They sicken and decay!
Each various bloom, so sweet, so bright,
Shall, ere to-morrow's dawn,
Appear a charmless, shrivell'd sight,
And, scentless, droop forlorn!
Shall, ere to-morrow's dawn,
Appear a charmless, shrivell'd sight,
And, scentless, droop forlorn!
Yet fair Melissa, gentle friend!
Should you approve my lays,
On them will second life attend—
A life that ne'er decays!
Should you approve my lays,
On them will second life attend—
A life that ne'er decays!
Your smile each beauty can restore,
Revive each drooping sweet—
Nay, make them lovelier than before,
Their perfume more complete.
Revive each drooping sweet—
Nay, make them lovelier than before,
Their perfume more complete.
At least, should you my sonnets praise,
To me it will appear;
The flow'rs, surviving in my lays,
A double value bear.
To me it will appear;
The flow'rs, surviving in my lays,
A double value bear.
165
The TURTLES NEST.
“Serena, in this peaceful grove
“A temple's built to purest Love;
“Where his chaste rights are duly paid,
“Where his full pow'r's at large display'd,
“Where burn those fires that never fade.
“A temple's built to purest Love;
“Where his chaste rights are duly paid,
“Where his full pow'r's at large display'd,
“Where burn those fires that never fade.
“'Tis here, to all who wish to know,
“He condescends at large to show
“The means by which Connubial Love
“We may obtain, we may improve,
“Nor fear a change, nor wish to rove.”
“He condescends at large to show
“The means by which Connubial Love
“We may obtain, we may improve,
“Nor fear a change, nor wish to rove.”
Serena sought the grove around—
But temple none, nor shrine she found.
When the fond partner of her breast
His secret meaning thus exprest:
“See here, my love, the Turtles Nest!
But temple none, nor shrine she found.
When the fond partner of her breast
His secret meaning thus exprest:
“See here, my love, the Turtles Nest!
“Whene'er, within this close retreat,
“My eyes the feather'd partners meet,
“Or when, as thro' the grove I stray,
“They fondly pour the mutual lay,
“'Tis thus methinks I hear them say:
“My eyes the feather'd partners meet,
“Or when, as thro' the grove I stray,
“They fondly pour the mutual lay,
“'Tis thus methinks I hear them say:
166
‘In tender years of ductile youth
‘Our mates we choose, for love and truth,
‘And thus our yet unfashion'd hearts,
‘Each to the other still imparts
‘Its tempers, inclinations, arts.
‘Our mates we choose, for love and truth,
‘And thus our yet unfashion'd hearts,
‘Each to the other still imparts
‘Its tempers, inclinations, arts.
‘We never seek the busy town,
‘Where plodding Care, with stupid frown,
‘Where Simulation's treacherous art,
‘Where Pleasure's lure, Detraction's dart,
‘And Vanity corrupt the heart;
‘Where plodding Care, with stupid frown,
‘Where Simulation's treacherous art,
‘Where Pleasure's lure, Detraction's dart,
‘And Vanity corrupt the heart;
‘But to embow'ring shades repair,
‘To rear our young our only care.
‘Thus seeking bliss, thus hoping rest
‘But in each other's tranquil breast,
‘Joy hovers round the Turtles Nest.
‘To rear our young our only care.
‘Thus seeking bliss, thus hoping rest
‘But in each other's tranquil breast,
‘Joy hovers round the Turtles Nest.
‘Thus time ne'er shakes our constant love,
‘Nor jars, nor cold distrusts we prove;
‘Not Fate himself our loves can part,
‘But when he points the barbed dart
‘At once it pierces either's heart.’
‘Nor jars, nor cold distrusts we prove;
‘Not Fate himself our loves can part,
‘But when he points the barbed dart
‘At once it pierces either's heart.’
167
Serena heard her lover's tale,—
Nor did it of its moral fail.
Old Clodio, whom her friends approv'd,
By titles and by grandeur mov'd,
She spurn'd, to bless the youth she lov'd.
Nor did it of its moral fail.
Old Clodio, whom her friends approv'd,
By titles and by grandeur mov'd,
She spurn'd, to bless the youth she lov'd.
Retir'd within the peaceful grove,
They taste uncloying sweets of love;
And, leaning on her lover's breast,
Full oft has fond Serena blest
The day she saw the Turtles Nest.
They taste uncloying sweets of love;
And, leaning on her lover's breast,
Full oft has fond Serena blest
The day she saw the Turtles Nest.
EXTEMPORE.
On seeing a Bird perched on the Summit of a Poplar while it was shaking with the Breeze.
See, on yon poplar's topmast spray,
The little warbler stands;
And, fearless, while he pours the lay,
The distant view commands.
The little warbler stands;
And, fearless, while he pours the lay,
The distant view commands.
168
The spray that shakes with ev'ry breeze
That fans the vernal air,
Shakes not his bosom's tranquil ease,
Nor gives one trembling care.
That fans the vernal air,
Shakes not his bosom's tranquil ease,
Nor gives one trembling care.
No weight of guilt to press him down,
No stores his heart to 'thrall;
Should he from yonder spray be thrown,
He fears no dang'rous fall.
No stores his heart to 'thrall;
Should he from yonder spray be thrown,
He fears no dang'rous fall.
If shaken from the fickle spray,
He'll claim his native skies,
And sweetly pour his sprightly lay,
As thro' the air he flies.
He'll claim his native skies,
And sweetly pour his sprightly lay,
As thro' the air he flies.
So 'tis with him whose tranquil soul
With pious ardour glows;
No cares his steady joys controul,
He fears no threat'ning woes.
With pious ardour glows;
No cares his steady joys controul,
He fears no threat'ning woes.
Secure on Danger's brink he stands,
And laughs at Fortune's spite:
Prepar'd, when Fate or Chance commands,
To seek the Realms of Light.
And laughs at Fortune's spite:
Prepar'd, when Fate or Chance commands,
To seek the Realms of Light.
169
SONG.
The BEST AIR.
They talk of Montp'lier,
And the soft-breathing air
Which blows in the southward of France,
Conducive to health,
Which, far more than wealth,
All the blessings of life can enhance.
And the soft-breathing air
Which blows in the southward of France,
Conducive to health,
Which, far more than wealth,
All the blessings of life can enhance.
Of Lisbon they preach,
And of Italy teach;
But I, in Old England have found
A far better air
Waining health to repair,
Than did e'er on the Cont'nent abound.
And of Italy teach;
But I, in Old England have found
A far better air
Waining health to repair,
Than did e'er on the Cont'nent abound.
Not Zephyrs that play
'Mong the flow'rets of May,
Have so pleasant an influence to cheer!
The air that I mean
Flows forth from between
The bright rosy lips of my dear.
'Mong the flow'rets of May,
Have so pleasant an influence to cheer!
The air that I mean
Flows forth from between
The bright rosy lips of my dear.
170
But, alas! the sweet breath
Can also give death,
As sure as from sickness can save!
At will can destroy,
Or fill me with joy,
And build me a bow'r or a grave!
Can also give death,
As sure as from sickness can save!
At will can destroy,
Or fill me with joy,
And build me a bow'r or a grave!
Then Chloe be kind—
More pleasure you'll find,
If tender and gentle's your breast,
To heal the heart's wound,
Than to deal death around;
And in blessing yourself will be blest!
More pleasure you'll find,
If tender and gentle's your breast,
To heal the heart's wound,
Than to deal death around;
And in blessing yourself will be blest!
AMBITION AND HUMILITY.
When first this infant rose I spied,
Just op'ning to the laughing day,
In all her gaudy vestments gay,
And bright in blushing pride,
Just op'ning to the laughing day,
In all her gaudy vestments gay,
And bright in blushing pride,
171
Exalted on her stem she shin'd,
To public notice far display'd;
While this, as of the sun afraid,
In shelter low reclin'd.
To public notice far display'd;
While this, as of the sun afraid,
In shelter low reclin'd.
Then thus I sung, in thoughtless strain:
“If charms or merit are not shown,
“What boots it that we either own?
“They're idle gifts and vain!
“If charms or merit are not shown,
“What boots it that we either own?
“They're idle gifts and vain!
“This rose, close shrouded by the briar,
“And hanging humbly near the ground,
“To rival this, which shines around,
“For beauty might aspire.
“And hanging humbly near the ground,
“To rival this, which shines around,
“For beauty might aspire.
“But thus obscur'd, alas! how few
“Her glowing beauties shall survey,
“Which if aloft she would display
“Would charm each trav'ller's view.”
“Her glowing beauties shall survey,
“Which if aloft she would display
“Would charm each trav'ller's view.”
But ah! behold a blighting wind
Has cropt the lofty flow'ret short;
To earth its flaunting beauties brought,
Where fading 'tis reclin'd!
Has cropt the lofty flow'ret short;
To earth its flaunting beauties brought,
Where fading 'tis reclin'd!
172
While, shelter'd by its humble choice,
The prudent blossom safe remains,
And thus, to the surrounding plains
“Exerts her modest voice:
The prudent blossom safe remains,
And thus, to the surrounding plains
“Exerts her modest voice:
“Let not ambition fire your hearts,
“Ah pant not for a lofty state;
“For sudden dangers wait the great,
“And many fatal arts.
“Ah pant not for a lofty state;
“For sudden dangers wait the great,
“And many fatal arts.
“There Envy, Calumny await,
“Misfortune rides on ev'ry gale;
“While, in Contentment's humble vale,
“We shun the storms of Fate.”
“Misfortune rides on ev'ry gale;
“While, in Contentment's humble vale,
“We shun the storms of Fate.”
173
SONNET.
To the MOON.
Thou Moon, whose yellow beams are seen
Just darting thro' this poplar shade,
And mingling dappled light between
The dusky umbrage round display'd,
Just darting thro' this poplar shade,
And mingling dappled light between
The dusky umbrage round display'd,
Shew'st of my mind an emblem true;
Where smiling Hope, with feeble ray,
Pierces the thick'ning shadows through
Which Love and Fortune's frown display.
Where smiling Hope, with feeble ray,
Pierces the thick'ning shadows through
Which Love and Fortune's frown display.
Mount higher, Moon, and let thy beams
No more obstructed meet the ground!
Mount higher, Hope, and pour thy streams
Of light more full my heart around!
Ah may no fears thy smile confound,
But Joy thy offspring blest, gay thro' my bosom bound!
No more obstructed meet the ground!
Mount higher, Hope, and pour thy streams
Of light more full my heart around!
Ah may no fears thy smile confound,
But Joy thy offspring blest, gay thro' my bosom bound!
| Poems on Various Subjects | |