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The Springs
LONDESBOROUGH PARK
“Ille terrarum mihi præter omnes
Angulus ridet.”
Horace (Od. ii. 6)
Horace (Od. ii. 6)
A grassy hill with beeches crowned
Throws its encircling arms around
My own peculiar nook of ground.
Throws its encircling arms around
My own peculiar nook of ground.
No chilly breath of wandering air
From North or East can touch me there
E'en when the sheltering trees are bare.
From North or East can touch me there
E'en when the sheltering trees are bare.
There the first violets washed in dew
Come shyly faltering forth to view
And half disclose their glances blue.
Come shyly faltering forth to view
And half disclose their glances blue.
4
And there in turn the spotless May
Puts on her fresh and fair array
And sweetly challenges the day.
Puts on her fresh and fair array
And sweetly challenges the day.
Till soon the wild-rose shows his face,
And crown'd with an all-conquering grace
Shines the brief monarch of the place.
And crown'd with an all-conquering grace
Shines the brief monarch of the place.
And in that sylvan combe are heard
The dulcet notes of many a bird
To vernal mirth and music stirred.
The dulcet notes of many a bird
To vernal mirth and music stirred.
While from deep hidden springs below
Fountains of living water flow
And make soft murmurings as they go;
Fountains of living water flow
And make soft murmurings as they go;
Then to a peaceful mere expand,
Where patient herons take their stand,
And teal disport, a timid band.
Where patient herons take their stand,
And teal disport, a timid band.
And the swift kingfisher is seen
Flashing its blue and orange sheen
Upon the glassy wave serene.
Flashing its blue and orange sheen
Upon the glassy wave serene.
The silent swan its arch of snow
And mantling pride steers to and fro,
Repeated with a wavering glow;
And mantling pride steers to and fro,
Repeated with a wavering glow;
While coots and moorhens round it play,
And wild ducks light with splash and spray,
And swallows glide and dip all day.
And wild ducks light with splash and spray,
And swallows glide and dip all day.
5
Hither Spring's early birds are blown:
Here through the Summer doves make moan:
And Autumn robin mourns alone.
Here through the Summer doves make moan:
And Autumn robin mourns alone.
The fading elms which cluster round
To guard the water's azure bound
Mirror their gold in depths profound.
To guard the water's azure bound
Mirror their gold in depths profound.
Each yellow leaf in sunshine sweet
Floats down a phantom-leaf to meet
Through the blue wave upspringing fleet.
Floats down a phantom-leaf to meet
Through the blue wave upspringing fleet.
And when the beech and elms are bare
The banded spruce stand watching there,
Their changeless verdure imaged fair.
The banded spruce stand watching there,
Their changeless verdure imaged fair.
So many charms are here displayed
As if this pleasant place were made
For “a green thought in a green shade.”
As if this pleasant place were made
For “a green thought in a green shade.”
The seasons here on circling wing
Reflections bright perforce must bring,
Like flowers that bloom and birds that sing.
Reflections bright perforce must bring,
Like flowers that bloom and birds that sing.
On Nature's face who loves to look
In such a calm sequestered nook
Must gather lore from God's fair book.
In such a calm sequestered nook
Must gather lore from God's fair book.
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