Parent of day, the morn unveils her eyes, Her fragrant groves their incense yield; While dancing down the pebbly stream The silver radiance chears the feather'd throng, Woods, hills, and dales re-echo with their song. Thus, like the morn, will fairest Freedom come, With dawning glory to disperse the gloom The charms of nature to refine; With blooming hope and harmony to please, Place me in Afric's desart lands, Where thirst sits gaping on the sands; If there auspicious Freedom fix her seat, 'Midst burning blasts, I'll hail the rude retreat; Soon shall the wild, more polish'd grown, Admire new beauties, not her own : Sage Industry shall dig the well Be taught around the palm to twine; Place me beneath the gelid zone, With fur-cloath'd mortals deign to roam; Thro' snowy wastes the dome I'll seek; Or, mindful of the lengthen'd day, Nor will Cimmerian sleep forget to bring Safe slumbers, waving at his downy wing. Come then, Celestial, let thy wish'd return This happier clime serene; This happier clime, if Rome thy absence mourn, Of turrets, and the painted green; As when, new harness'd out by Wrath and Fear, Night's chariot moves in storms; and thunders hurl'd Roll their broad terrors round the groaning world. ODE XXVIII. LIFE. LIFE! the dear precarious boon! Soon we lose, alas! how soon! Fleeting vision, falsely gay! Grasp'd in vain, it fades away, Mixing with surrounding shades, Lovely vision! how it fades! Let the Muse, in fancy's glass, Catch the phantoms as they pass: See they rise! a nymph behold Careless, wanton, young and bold; Mark her devious, hasty pace, Antic dress, and thoughtless face, Smiling cheeks, and roving eyes, Causeless mirth, and vain surprizeTripping at her side, a boy Shares her wonder, and her joy; This is Folly, Childhood's guide, This is Childhood at her side. What is he succeeding now, Myrtles blooming on his brow, Bright, and blushing, as the morn, Not on earth a mortal born? Shafts, to pierce the strong I view, Wings, the flying to pursue; Victim of his power, behind Stalks a slave of human kind, Manhood, link'd by fate to Care. Spare my eyes, my heart, the last. ; |