SELECT POEMS. THE TEARS OF OLD MAY-DAY.* LED by the jocund train of vernal hours Her locks with Heaven's ambrosial dews were bright, And amorous zephyrs flutter'd on her breast: With every shifting gleam of morning light The colours shifted of her rainbow vest. Imperial ensigns grac'd her smiling form, A golden key and golden wand she bore; This charms to peace each sullen eastern Storm, And that unlocks the Summer's copious store. Onward in conscious majesty she came, * Written on the 25th of July, 1754, when our style or calen.. dar was rendered conformable to the usage of the rest of Europe. Vain hope! no more in choral bands unite To her no more Augusta'st wealthy pride No more the Maypole's verdant height around My maiden honours whither gone?" she cried. The first, the fairest daughter of the skies. "Then, when at Heaven's prolific mandate sprung The radiant beam of new-created day, Celestial harps, to airs of triumph strung, Hail'd the glad dawn, and angels call'd me May. "Space in her empty regions heard the sound, And hills, and dales, and rocks, and valleys rung; The Sun exulted in his glorious round, And shouting Planets in their courses sung. Alluding to the country custom of gathering May-dew. The plate-garlands, which the London milk-maids dance round. "For ever then I led a constant year; Saw Youth, and Joy, and Love's enchanting wiles; Saw the mild Graces in my home appear, And infant Beauty brighten in my smiles. "No Winter frown'd. In sweet embrace allied, Three sister Seasons danc'd the' eternal green; And Spring's retiring softness gently vied With Autumn's blush, and Summer's lofty mien. "Too soon, when man profan'd the blessings given, And Vengeance arm'd to blot a guilty age, With bright Astrea to my native Heaven I fled, and flying saw the Deluge rage: "Saw bursting clouds eclipse the noontide beams, While sounding billows from the mountains roll'd, With bitter waves polluting all my streams, My nectar'd streams, that flow'd on sands of gold. "Then vanish'd many a sea-girt isle and grove, "No longer bloom'd primeval Eden's bow'rs, steep; With all their fountains, fragrant fruits, and flow'rs, "No more to dwell in sylvan scenes I deign'd, "And every echo caught my raptur'd name, And every virgin breath'd her amorous vows, And precious wreaths of rich immortal fame, Shower'd by the Muses, crown'd my lofty brows. "But chief in Europe, and in Europe's pride, My Albion's favour'd realms, I rose ador'd; And pour'd my wealth, to other climes denied, From Amalthea's horn with plenty stor❜d. "Ah me! for now a younger Rival claims My ravish'd honours, and to her belong My choral dances and victorious games, To her my garlands and triumphal song. "O say what yet untasted bounties flow, What purer joys await her gentler reign ? Do lilies fairer, violets sweeter blow? And warbles Philomel a softer strain? "Do morning suns in ruddier glory rise? Does evening fan her with serener gales? Do clouds drop fatness from the wealthier skies, Or wantons plenty in her happier vales? "Ah! no; the blunted beams of dawning light Skirt the pale orient with uncertain day; And Cynthia, riding on the car of night, Through clouds embattled faintly wins her way. “Pale, immature, the blighted verdure springs, Nor mounting juices feed the swelling flow'r; Mute all the groves, nor Philomela sings When Silence listens at the midnight hour. "Nor wonder, man, that Nature's bashful face, And opening charms, her rude embraces fear : Is she not sprung of April's wayward race, The sickly daughter of the' unripen'd year? "With showers and sunshine in her fickle eyes, With hollow smiles proclaiming treacherous peace; With blushes, harbouring in their thin disguise, "Is this the fair invested with my spoil By Europe's laws, and Senates' stern command ?* Ungenerous Europe, let me fly thy soil, And waft my treasures to a grateful land: કંદ Again revive on Asia's drooping shore, My Daphne's groves, or Lycia's ancient plain; Again to Afric's sultry sands restore Embowering shades, and Libyan Ammon's fane: "Or haste to Northern Zembla's savage coast, There hush to silence elemental strife; Brood o'er the region of eternal frost, And swell her barren womb with heat and life: "Then Britain"-Here she ceas'd. Indignant grief, And parting pangs, her faltering tongue sup. press'd: Veil'd in an amber cloud she sought relief, The alteration of style was enforced by act of parliament. |