Upon yon tuft of hazel trees, Yet seeming still to hover; There! where the flutter of his wings Shadows and sunny glimmerings, While thus before my eyes he gleams, When in a moment forth he teems His little song in gushes: As if it pleas'd him to disdain And mock the Form which he did feign, While he was dancing with the train Of Leaves among the bushes. E 5 TO A YOUNG LADY, Who had been reproached for taking long Dear Child of Nature, let them rail! A harbour and a hold, Where thou a Wife and Friend, shalt see Thy own delightful days, and be A light to young and old. There, healthy as a Shepherd-boy, As if thy heritage were joy, And pleasure were thy trade, Thou, while thy Babes around thee cling, Shalt show us how divine a thing A Woman may be made. Thy thoughts and feelings shall not die, But an old age, alive and bright, Shall lead thee to thy grave. - Pleasure is spread through the earth In stray gifts to be claim'd by whoever shall find.” By their floating Mill, Which lies dead and still, Behold yon Prisoners three! The Miller with two Dames, on the breast of the Thames The Platform is small, but there's room for them all; And they're dancing merrily. From the shore come the notes To their Mill where it floats, To their House and their Mill tether'd fast! To the small wooden isle where their work to beguile They from morning to even take whatever is given;And many a blithe day they have past. In sight of the Spires All alive with the fires Of the Sun going down to his rest, In the broad open eye of the solitary sky, Man and Maidens wheel, They themselves make the Reel, And their Music's a prey which they seize; They dance not for me, Yet mine is their glee! Thus pleasure is spread through the earth In stray gifts to be claim'd by whoever shall find; Thus a rich loving-kindness, redundantly kind, Moves all nature to gladness and mirth. |