University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poetical works of John Nicholson

... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird
 

collapse section
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
collapse section
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ilkley, thy healthy mountains, wells, and air,
Can cure the nervous, trembling in despair!
Upon thy crags, to climb the granite rocks,
And see the sportive youths pursue the fox,
Would make the trembling limbs be firm again,
And banish Melancholy and her train.
To thee, how many on their crutches come,
Soon dance without them, and run smiling home:
Then to their friends in highest raptures tell
How strength improved at Ilkley and its well.
Here they can walk amid the valley fine,
The angler into crystal throw his line,
And watch the trout, though in the water deep—
Behold his eyes, which ne'er are closed in sleep;

61

Peace, Love, and Solitude near Ilkley dwell,
And Health sits smiling at her mountain well:
Thus did she sit, and made this vale her home,
Before invading Cæsar marched from Rome.