To where in deep capacious bed The widely liquid lake is spread.
Let other streams rejoice to roar Down the rough rocks of dread Lodore, Rush raving on with boisterous sweep,_250 And foaming rend the frighted deep, Thy gentle Genius shrinks away
From such a rude unequal fray;
Thro' thine own native dale, where rise Tremendous rocks amid the skies, Thy wayes with patience slowly wind, Till they the smoothest channel find, Soften the horrors of the scene, And thro' confusion flow serene.
Horrors like these at first alarm,
But soon with savage grandeur charm, And raise to noblest thoughts your mind. Thus by thy fall, Lodore, reclin'd, The cragged cliff, impendent wood, Whose shadows mix o'er half the flood, The gloomy clouds, which solemn sail, Scarce lifted by the languid gale O'er the cap'd hill, and darken'd vale; The ravening kite, and bird of Jove, Which round th' aerial ocean rove, And, floating on the billowy sky, With full expanded pennons fly, Their fluttering or their bleating prey
Thence with death-dooming eye survey: Channels by rocky torrents torn, Rocks to the lake in thunder borne, Or such as o'er our heads appear Suspended in their mid career, To start again at his command, Who rules fire, water, air, and land, I view with wonder and delight,
A pleasing, tho' an awful sight: For, seen with them, the verdant Isles Soften with more delicious smiles,] More tempting twine their opening bowers, More lively glow the purple flowers,] More smoothly slopes the border gay, In fairer circle bends the bay, And last, to fix our wandering eyes, Thy roofs, O Keswick, brighter rise The lake and lofty hills between, Where giant Skiddow shuts the scene.
Supreme of mountains, Skiddow, hail!, To whom all Britain sinks a vale! Lo, his imperial brow I see
From foul usurping vapors free!
'Twere glorious now his side to climb, Boldly to scale his top sublime!
And thence-my Muse, these flights forbear,
Nor with wild raptures tire the Fair.
Hills, rocks, and dales have been too long The subject of thy rambling song.
Far other scenes their minds employ, And move their hearts with softer joy. For pleasures they need never roam, Theirs with affection dwell, at home. Thrice happy they at home to prove A Parent's and a Brother's love; Her bright example pleas'd to trace, Learn every virtue, every grace, _310 Which lustre give in female life To daughter, sister, parent, wife : Grateful to see her guardian care A tender Father's loss repair, And, rising far o'er grief and pain, The glories of her race maintain.
Their ancient seats let others fly, To roll beneath a foreign sky, Or-loitering in their villas stay, Till useless summers waste away, While, hopeless of their lord's return, The poor exhausted tenants mourn ; From Lowther she disdains to run To bask beneath a southern sun, Opens the hospitable door,
Welcomes the friend, relieves the poor; Bids tenants share the lib'ral board, And early know and love their Lord, Whose courteous deeds to all extend, And make each happy guest a friend, 30 To smiling Earth the grateful Main
Thus gives her gather'd streams again In showers on hill, and dale, and plain.
O may the virtues which adorn With modest beams his rising morn, Unclouded grow to perfect day! May He with bounty's brightest ray The natives chear, enrich the soil, With arts improve, reward their toil,
Glad with kind warmth, our northern sky, And generous Lonsdale's loss supply.
(WRITTEN IN THE close of winter)
JUST LEAVING A FAVORITE RETIREMENT,
Previous to settling abroad.
THE REV. SAMUEL HENLEY, F. S. A.
ERE yet your footsteps quit the place Your presence long hath deign'd to grace, With softening eye and heart deplore The conscious scenes your own no more.
When vernal clouds their influence shower, Expand the bud, and rear the flower,
Who to yon leafing grove will come
Where the rath primrose loves to bloom, And fondly seek with heedful tread The forward floret's downy head? Or, when the violet leaves the ground, Scent the pure perfume breathing round?
« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια » |