But O! how alter'd was its sprightlier tone, When Cheerfulness, a nymph of healthiest hue, Her bow across her shoulder flung, 71 Her buskins gemm'd with morning dew, Blew an inspiring air, that dale and thicket rung, The hunter's call, to Faun and Dryad known! The oak-crown'd Sisters, and their chaste-eyed Queen, Satyrs and Sylvan Boys, were seen, Peeping from forth their alleys green: Brown Exercise rejoiced to hear; 75 And Sport leapt up, and seized his beechen spear. Last came Joy's ecstatic trial: He, with viny crown advancing, First to the lively pipe his hand addrest; But soon he saw the brisk awakening viol, 80 Whose sweet entrancing voice he loved the best; They would have thought who heard the strain 85 They saw, in Tempe's vale, her native maids, Amidst the festal sounding shades, To some unwearied minstrel dancing, As if he would the charming air repay, O Music! sphere-descended maid, 95 Why, goddess! why, to us denied, 100 105 110 115 ODE ON THE DEATH OF THOMSON. THE SCENE IS SUPPOSED TO LIE ON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND. IN yonder grave a Druid lies, Where slowly winds the stealing wave; The year's best sweets shall duteous rise To deck its poet's sylvan grave. In yon deep bed of whispering reeds That he, whose heart in sorrow bleeds, Then maids and youths shall linger here, Shall sadly seem in pity's ear To hear the woodland pilgrim's knell. 10 a The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle of Indolence. Remembrance oft shall haunt the shore When Thames in summer wreaths is drest, And oft suspend the dashing oar, To bid his gentle spirit rest! And oft, as ease and health retire The friend shall view yon whitening spire, But thou, who own'st that earthy bed, That mourn beneath the gliding sail? Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmering near? With him, sweet bard, may fancy die, And joy desert the blooming year. But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide No sedge-crown'd sisters now attend, Now waft me from the green hill's side, Whose cold turf hides the buried friend! 30 VARIATION. Ver. 21. But thou who own'st that earthly bed. b Richmond Church, in which Thomson was buried. And see, the fairy valleys fade; Dun night has veil'd the solemn view! The genial meads, assign'd to bless Long, long, thy stone and pointed clay 35 40 c Mr. Thomson resided in the neighbourhood of Richmond some time before his death. F |