XIII. He speaks but what gratitude dictates, and truth; XIV. Thou knowest, fair charmer of lineage divine, That soon the clear azure unclouded shall shine; That life's transient blessings the earnest but give Of such as from Time shall no limits receive. XV. O, come then, dear source of good-humour and ease, Who teachest at once to be pleased and to please; And ever, henceforth, with thy Rosalind dwell, Sweet Cheerfulness, nymph who all nymphs dost excel. MORAL STANZAS. I. WELCOME, the real state of things! Where clouds, piled up by Fancy's hand, II. Here the gay sunshine of content And life steal on with gentle pace, III. Hesperian trees amidst my grove IV. Nor would I have the phoenix build For where shall odorous gums be found V. Henceforth no pleasure I desire Such as should lull the captived mind VI. Friendship I ask, without caprice, When faults are over-seen; Errors on both sides mix'd with truth, And kind good-will between : VII. Health, that may best its value prove, Amusements to enliven life; VIII. Thus would I pass my hours away, Till Time shall from my sliding feet LINES, WRITTEN IN THE COUNTRY, TOWARDS THE END OF AUTUMN. SPRING, gay season, is no more; When the northern tempests blow, When the busy world resort How shall sweet Contentment dwell? Shall not then the tedious day Sad and silent wear away? Shall not all the darksome night Shining scenes shall vex the mind, Then to turn the studious page Or intent, with hand and eye, -Shall she not ?-then pr'ythee, bind As it lists the wind may blow: Summer, Spring, and Autumn, pass'd, Winter comes, with sober cheer, When the verdant scenes are lost; When the hills are white with frost ; Fancy's idle reign is done, Reason's empire is begun. Happy gay ones, may you be, All your hours, from sorrow free! To the happy, to the gay, Unreproved, my thoughts shall stray. |