Nor hyacinths, of purest virgin white,

Low-bent, and blushing inward; nor jonquils,

545

Of potent fragrance; nor Narcissus fair,

As o'er the fabled fountain hanging still

Nor broad carnations, nor gay-spotted pinks;

Nor, shower'd from every bush, the damask-rose.
Infinite numbers, delicacies, smells,

550

With hues on hues expression cannot paint,

The breath of Nature, and her endless bloom.

HAIL, SOURCE OF BEING! UNIVERSAL SOUL Of heaven and earth! ESSENTIAL PRESENCE, hail! To THER I bend the knee; to THEE my thoughts, 555 Continual, climb; who, with a master-hand, Hast the great whole into perfection touch'd. By THEE the various vegetative tribes, Wrapt in a filmy net, and clad with leaves, Draw the live ether, and imbibe the dew:

560

By THEE dispos'd into congenial soils,

Stands each attractive plant, and sucks, and swells

The juicy tide; a twining mass of tubes.

At THY command the vernal sun awakes
The torpid sap, detruded to the root
By wintry winds; that now in fluent dance,
And lively fermentation, mounting, spreads
All this innumerous-colour'd scene of things.
As rising from the vegetable world

565

My theme ascends, with equal wing ascend,

570

My panting Muse! and hark, how loud the woods

Invite you forth in all your gayest trim.

Lend me your song, ye nightingales! oh pour
The mazy-running soul of melody

Into my varied verfe; while I deduce,

575

From the first note the hollow cuckoo sings,
The symphony of Spring; and touch a theme
Unknown to fame, the passion of the

groves.

WHEN first the soul of love is fent abroad, Warm thro' the vital air, and on the heart

580

Harmonious seizes; the gay troops begin,

In gallant thought, to plume the painted wing;

And try again the long-forgotten strain,

At first faint-warbled. But no sooner grows

The soft infusion prevalent, and wide,

585

Than, all alive, at once their joy o'erflows

In music unconfin'd. Up-springs the lark,

Shrill-voic'd, and loud, the messenger of morn:

Ere yet the shadows fly, he mounted sings

Amid the dawning clouds, and from their haunts 590 Calls the tuneful nations. Every copse

up

Deep-tangled, tree irregular, and bush

Bending with dewy moisture, o'er the heads

Of the coy quiristers that lodge within,

Are prodigal of harmony. The thrush

And wood-lark, o'er the kind contending throng
Superior heard, run thro' the sweetest length
Of notes; when listening PHILOMELA deigns

395

To let them joy, and purposes, in thought

Elate, to make her night excel their day.

600

605

The black-bird whistles from the thorny brake;
The mellow bullfinch answers from the grove:
Nor are the linnets, o'er the flowering furze
Pour'd out profusely, silent. Join'd to these,
Innumerous songsters, in the freshening shade
Of new-sprung leaves, their modulations mix
Mellifluous. The jay, the rook, the daw,
And each harsh pipe, discordant heard alone,
Aid the full concert: While the stock-dove breathes

A melancholy murmur thro' the whole.

'Tis love creates their melody, and all

610

This waste of music is the voice of love;
That ev'n to birds, and beasts, the tender arts

Of pleasing teaches. Hence the glossy kind
Try every winning way inventive love

615

Can dictate; and in courtship to their mates

Pour forth their little souls. First, wide around,
With distant awe, in airy rings they rove;
Endeavouring by a thousand tricks to catch
The cunning, conscious, half-averted glance
Of the regardless charmer. Should she seem
Softening the least approvance to bestow,
Their colours burnish, and by hope inspir'd,

620

They brisk advance; then on a sudden struck,
Retire disorder'd; then again approach;

625

In fond rotation spread the spotted wing,
And shiver every feather with desire.

CONNUBIAL leagues agreed, to the deep woods
They haste away, all as their fancy leads,

Pleasure, or food, or secret safety prompts;
That NATURE's great command may be obey'd,
Nor all the sweet sensations they perceive
Indulg'd in vain. Some to the holly-hedge
Nestling repair, and to the thicket some;

630

Some to the rude protection of the thorn

635

Commit their feeble offspring: The cleft tree

Offers its kind concealment to a few;

Their food its insects, and its moss their nests.

Or roughening waste, their humble texture weave. 640
But most in woodland solitudes delight;

In unfrequented glooms, or shaggy banks,
Steep, and divided by a babbling brook,

Whose murmurs soothe them all the live-long day,
When by kind duty fix'd. Among the roots

645

Of hazel, pendant o'er the plaintive stream,
They frame the first foundation of their domes;
Dry sprigs of trees, in artful fabric laid,

And bound with clay together. Now 'tis nought

But restless hurry thro' the busy air,

Beat by unnumber'd wings. The swallow sweeps
The slimy pool, to build his hanging house

E

650

Intent.

And often, from the careless back

Of herds and flocks, a thousand tugging bills

Pluck hair and wool; and oft, when unobserv'd, 655 Steal from the barn a straw: Till soft and warm,

Clean, and complete, their habitation grows.

As thus the patient dam assiduous sits,

Not to be tempted from her tender task,

Or by sharp hunger, or by smooth delight,

660

Tho' the whole loosened Spring around her blows;

Her sympathizing lover takes his stand

High on th' opponent bank, and ceaseless sings

The tedious time away; or else supplies

Her place a moment, while she sudden flits

To pick the scanty meal. Th' appointed time
With pious toil fulfill'd, the callow young,
Warm'd and expanded into perfect life,

665

Their brittle bondage break; and come to light,

The most delicious morsel to their young;
Which equally distributed, again

675

The search begins. Even so a gentle pair,
By fortune sunk, but form'd of generous mould,
And charm'd with cares beyond the vulgar breast;