 | The search after happiness |  |
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INSCRIPTION In a beautiful Retreat, called Fairy Bower.
AIRY spirits, you who love
Cooling bow'r, or shady grove,
Streams that murmur as they flow,
Zephyrs bland that softly blow;
Cooling bow'r, or shady grove,
Streams that murmur as they flow,
Zephyrs bland that softly blow;
Babbling Echo, or the tale
Of the love-lorn Nightingale;
Hither, airy spirits, come,
This is your peculiar home.
Of the love-lorn Nightingale;
Hither, airy spirits, come,
This is your peculiar home.
If you love a verdant glade,
If you love a noon-tide shade,
Hither, Sylphs and Fairies, fiy,
Unobserv'd of earthly eye.
If you love a noon-tide shade,
Hither, Sylphs and Fairies, fiy,
Unobserv'd of earthly eye.
Come, and wander ev'ry night
By the moon-beam's glimm'ring light,
And again at early day
Brush the silver dews away.
By the moon-beam's glimm'ring light,
And again at early day
Brush the silver dews away.
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Mark where first the daisies blow,
Where the bluest violets grow,
Where the sweetest linnet sings,
Where the earliest cowslip springs:
Where the bluest violets grow,
Where the sweetest linnet sings,
Where the earliest cowslip springs:
Where the largest acorn lies,
Precious in a Fairy's eyes:
Sylphs, tho' unconfin'd to place,
Love to fill an acorn's space.
Precious in a Fairy's eyes:
Sylphs, tho' unconfin'd to place,
Love to fill an acorn's space.
Come, and mark within what bush
Builds the blackbird or the thrush,
Great his joy who first espies;
Greater his who spares the prize.
Builds the blackbird or the thrush,
Great his joy who first espies;
Greater his who spares the prize.
Come, and watch the hallow'd bow'r,
Chace the insect from the flow'r;
Little offices like these,
Gentle souls and Fairies please.
Chace the insect from the flow'r;
Little offices like these,
Gentle souls and Fairies please.
Mortals! form'd of grosser clay,
From our haunts keep far away;
Or, if you should dare appear,
See that you from vice are clear.
From our haunts keep far away;
Or, if you should dare appear,
See that you from vice are clear.
Folly's minion, Fashion's fool,
Mad Ambition's restless tool!
Slave of Passion, slave of Pow'r,
Fly, ah! fly this tranquil bow'r!
Mad Ambition's restless tool!
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Fly, ah! fly this tranquil bow'r!
Son of Av'rice, soul of frost,
Wretch,—of Heav'n abhorr'd the most,
Learn to pity others wants,
Or avoid these hallow'd haunts.
Wretch,—of Heav'n abhorr'd the most,
Learn to pity others wants,
Or avoid these hallow'd haunts.
Eye unconscious of a tear,
When Affliction's train appear,
Heart that never heav'd a sigh
For another, come not nigh.
When Affliction's train appear,
Heart that never heav'd a sigh
For another, come not nigh.
But, ye darling Sons of Heav'n,
Giving freely what was giv'n,
Who, like Providence, dispense
The blessings of benevolence;
Giving freely what was giv'n,
Who, like Providence, dispense
The blessings of benevolence;
You who wipe the tearful eye,
You who stop the rising sigh,
You who well have understood
The luxury of doing good,
You who stop the rising sigh,
You who well have understood
The luxury of doing good,
Come, ye happy virtuous few,
Open is my bow'r to you;
You these mossy banks may press;
You each guardian Fay shall bless.
Open is my bow'r to you;
You these mossy banks may press;
You each guardian Fay shall bless.
THE END
| The search after happiness | |