As beneath a huge tree in a hot summers day, Overcome with fatigue I at length laid me down, Close to which a clear stream shap'd its smooth pebbled
That meandring divided a distant old town.
There I mark'd its wild course, felt the cool fanning too Of the light flutt'ring breeze that just rippled its breast, Till the grey-hooded Eve, her light vapoury dew Shed, and succour'd the sod round the parch'd turf I prest.
Ye sons of hard industry! vouch ye for me,
How kind the cool comfort that clung to my brow, For oft have ye sought out the stream and the tree, And blest the mild moisture and shade of the bough.
Your transports were mine, for I felt thro' my veins The hot flood of life much more temp'rately flow; My senses were ravish'd, dislodg'd were my pains, Nor dreamt in indulgence I cherish'd a foe.
Thus del rium'd with pleasure, determin'd to stay,
I dwelt on each beauty that grac'd the sweet scene, But mark'd not, entranc'd, the soft stealth of the day,
Nor thought of the mischief that crept o'er the green.
THE TREACHEROUS REFRESHMENT.
Yet scarce had bright Venus with eye soft and clear, Pierc'd the smooth glassy stream that so ravish'd my sight,
Than shivering I felt the moist evil too near,
And shrunk from the thin chilly covering of night.
And I found to my cost as I sought out my cot,
As I sought out my fast mould'ring hovel of clay, The refreshment so sweet tho' I dreamt of it not, Was excess, and becrippled the rest of my way.
And I felt that 'twas PRUDENCE alone cou'd steer clear, Of ills that like woodbine encircle man's rest,
That ev'ry dear joy may be purchas'd too dear,
And the soft sod so cheering too long may be prest.
WELCOME THOU, that from thy shadowy car, Sometimes art pleas'd to shew thy cloudless form, And to our low Earth, kind, tho' coldly bend Thy silver eyes set in etherial blue;
Who mindful of thy stated distance, still
In chasten'd splendour hold'st thy constant course,
Where'er bright PHOEBUS in his gorgeous vest
His yet unwearied steeds triumphant drives,
And from his chariot flings refulgent DAY!
Thy forehead in his setting radiance wreath'd,
Press'd by his rising ray thy flying feet:
Or sometimes wrapt in web of thickest woof,
Veil'd the mild lustre of unnumber'd gems
That bind thy brow and deck thy azure zone,
In sullen grandeur sail'st Heaven's arch along;
But howsoe'er thou sweep'st the fields of air,
Whether in spangled stole of lengthen'd light,
In the close wrapper of the hooded dark,
Or yet in flecker'd clouds of various shade,
Half hid, and half reveal'd thy gracious smile,
Still art thou welcome to thy votary's gaze !
And much of thee and of thy influence, NIGHT,
Sober and chaste!-the modest Muse wou'd sing.-
Thee I invoke, with most imploring soul!
To guide enquiry, and conduct my steps,
Thro' thy pale glimm'ring and thy thickest gloom;
Where'er close mischief burns her lanthorn dark,
Her flaring torch where bold-fac'd folly bears,
Or timid merit far from both retires;
That I may lash the traitors to thy laws,
Succour the guileless followers of thy will,
Extend thy influence, and assert thy sway
Reveal to MAN, for his important good,
Things yet unseen by his incurious eye-→
Lead him in safety thro' thy winding paths,
And with him many a hidden haunt explore-
Shew him who takes advantage of thy veil,
At whose white theft, by close-link'd hearts contriv'd,
Thy fav'ring count'nance, smiling in its shade,
Not only winks, but 'twixt the smuggled act,
And squint Suspicion, watchful to detect,
In kind connivance frowns a thicker gloom:
Whom-tho' they break, not outrage thy behests,
But thread with me or purpose like to mine,
Harmless as pure thy undiscover'd maze,
Shew him such scenes as cleave thy conscious soul,
And make thee shudder on thy sightless throne;
That in the acting draw blue lightnings down,
And wake the slumb❜ring vengeance of the skies!
Shew him the tortur'd mind that ne'er cou'd sleep:
Yet underneath perhaps, the self same roof,
The clos'd, still eye-lid where thou just hast laid
Thy leaden weight, and left it till the morn.-
What! shall man frame his pleasures unexplor'd
And shall he act his vices unreprov'd?
When all creation, but himself, retires
To cabin'd rest and circumscribed thought?
And shall we see meek Purity repose,
Beneath the pressure of thy falling folds;
Nor offer up one prayer to NATURE'S LORD,
(With all its wishes, all its treasures charg’d)
Its dreams to brighten, and its rest prolong.-
By thee O NIGHT! instructed so to do,
The beast his bed forms on the dewy grass,
The birds to roost them in the shady trees,
The fishes to their oozy banks repair;
Reptiles and insects to their holds unseen;
Young Vegetation wooes thee to her arms,
Worn out and ravish'd with the burning bliss
Of fiery Phoebus' uncontroul'd embrace;
And in the sighs of many a dying breeze,
Languishes thy delay-and much she pants
For the cool kisses of thy dewy lips,
And the soft pressure of thy tender touch.-
Sweet is the meeting-grateful is the fair;
Her womb prolific, self-impregn'd, brings forth
At early morn, assisted but by thee,
The liberal produce of the springing toil;
|