 | The miscellaneous works and novels of R. C. Dallas |  |
267
WEST TO GRAY.
Friendship and love are here shown to be the charms of life.
Sweet are the notes thy grateful lines convey,
Such Pan might chant round each Arcadian hill:
My heart receive, and give me thine, dear Gray!
And with thy friendship my fond bosom fill.
Such Pan might chant round each Arcadian hill:
My heart receive, and give me thine, dear Gray!
And with thy friendship my fond bosom fill.
Me fields and forests charm and mountain sides,
And newly-shaven lawn, and flowery mead;
Where'er with liquid feet the fountain glides,
Me willing oft the smiling wood-nymphs lead:
And newly-shaven lawn, and flowery mead;
Where'er with liquid feet the fountain glides,
Me willing oft the smiling wood-nymphs lead:
Or in some pensive mood they guide me oft
Where, as subaltern trees the oak surround,
The wonder of the wood proud rears aloft,
Spreads his thick wings, and shades the mossy ground.
Where, as subaltern trees the oak surround,
The wonder of the wood proud rears aloft,
Spreads his thick wings, and shades the mossy ground.
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There while Aurora, glowing love-fed fires,
With amorous speed young Cephalus pursues;
There when the Sun to Thetis' arms retires,
Stretch'd on some favourite spot I court the muse.
With amorous speed young Cephalus pursues;
There when the Sun to Thetis' arms retires,
Stretch'd on some favourite spot I court the muse.
Nor to our wood is Amarylle denied,
Down in the vale or on the ridgy height;
If love be absent me no mountain side,
Nor field, nor forest, lawn, nor mead delight.
Down in the vale or on the ridgy height;
If love be absent me no mountain side,
Nor field, nor forest, lawn, nor mead delight.
O'er hill, o'er dale, Love's victor powers diffuse,
He sways the sky, him ocean realms adore:
The flock, the bull, the lion, he subdues,
And, 'venger of Adonis, tames the boar.
He sways the sky, him ocean realms adore:
The flock, the bull, the lion, he subdues,
And, 'venger of Adonis, tames the boar.
E'en woods; on every bough the birds combine,
Idalian music thrills through every grove;
Hard plants in bonds of woody love entwine,
And beauty animates e'en rocks with love.
Idalian music thrills through every grove;
Hard plants in bonds of woody love entwine,
And beauty animates e'en rocks with love.
Harder than rock, and harder than the oak,
Whoe'er forbids to love with sure repose;
To such my soul should ne'er be freely spoke,
Nor in his hands a sacred pledge depose.
Whoe'er forbids to love with sure repose;
To such my soul should ne'er be freely spoke,
Nor in his hands a sacred pledge depose.
He nor knows friendship nor to love confides,
His day is vacant, unenjoyed his night:
If Beauty's absent me no mountain sides,
Nor field, nor forest, lawn, nor mead delight:
His day is vacant, unenjoyed his night:
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Nor field, nor forest, lawn, nor mead delight:
But place me, Fate, far from my native home,
Forbid me to revisit native skies;
Grant me the maid I love, and for my doom
I ne'er to Heaven should raise my plaintive sighs.
Forbid me to revisit native skies;
Grant me the maid I love, and for my doom
I ne'er to Heaven should raise my plaintive sighs.
Her gentle bosom every care beguiles,
And for the power to please alone I'd sigh:
Careless of fortune, e'en of royal smiles,
Folded in her dear arms well pleas'd to die.
And for the power to please alone I'd sigh:
Careless of fortune, e'en of royal smiles,
Folded in her dear arms well pleas'd to die.
| The miscellaneous works and novels of R. C. Dallas | |