Frail flow'r thy unobtrusive charms
Are emblems of his rip'ning worth,
Which early, and midst fate's alarms,
Shone in the friendly circle forth.
But false the promise youth bestow'd,
Fruitless the doating parents' care;
For cankers could that heart corrode,
the vital current there.
'Tis done! 'tis pass'd !—but vain are words, And vainer still the burning tear; Reflect! what lesson this affords
Of man's brief stay and bus'ness here.
What though I mourn not? still prevails
Within my heart, and in my brain,
His memory, and when that fails,
The flow'rs for me must bloom in vain.
Thy breeze, O morn, wafts vigour to my soul, Where pallid langour now resigns controul; Thy aspect brightens, and I see before me One scene of beauty-one wide field of glory.
Calm guides the murm'ring wand'rer of the vales,
Imparting freshness to th' enamour'd gales;
From thousand shrines, with od'rous sweetness
teeming,
Thy incense, nature, gratefully is streaming.
Hark! the wild bees loud singing as they rove-
Hark! the full chorus of the vocal grove-
Now gladsome Spring her richest robe's displaying,
And fleecy flocks through dewy pastures straying.
Hill after hill the cheerful cotter climbs,
Shrill through the glade resound the early chimes;
The sun soft gleaming gilds the village tower,
And tips with livelier tints the ivy'd bower.
Then welcome morn, thrice welcome to my soul,
Scar'd, from thy presence clouds and sadness roll;
Still shine effulgent-let me see before me
One scene of beauty-one wide field of glory.
(ANEMONE NEMOROSA.)
How gay the bosom of the grove,
Mid roots and rugged stems,
Far as th' exploring eye can rove,
Is deck'd with pearly gems.
Anemonies of brilliant hue
Their starry blooms display, Appearing to the ravish'd view A nether milky way.
Yet not of bold aspiring port
The lovely plant is found;
It starts not forth the eye to court,
But peers just o'er the ground,
'Tis the young virgin flower of spring,
In innocence array'd;
And to the heart more joys can bring,
Than grandeur or parade.
We hail it with an ardent glow,
Oft are its haunts explor'd;
It wakes affection's kindliest flow,
Like long-lost friend restor❜d.
'Tis not that vernal flowers are dight
In more attractive vest,
Than those which sparkling woo the sight
In Summer's glowing crest,
That forms their charm; 'tis that they speak
Of joyous days to come;
Of triumph over nature's wreck,
And life beyond the tomb.
'Tis the cuckoo's voice! 'tis the cuckoo's voice
Resounds, and it makes the woods rejoice,
Its startling note wakes hill and dale,
And is lovelier deem'd than the throstle's tale,
For it tells that the genial seasons come,
Of leafy woods and fields of bloom,
Of music and perfume, loves and joys,
Of balmy gales and clear blue skies.
'Tis the cuckoo's voice! 'tis the cuckoo's voice Resounds, and it makes my heart rejoice,
For the memory of by-gone days it brings,
Ere youth flew o'er me on downy wings;
Hope's iris gilding my prospect's extent,
Ere I knew what the world or what sorrow meant;
Man's follies and crimes to me yet unshown,
And I liv'd in a bright fairy world of my own.
'Tis the cuckoo's voice! 'tis the cuckoo's voice
Resounds, and it makes the world rejoice,
Where rings that sound, but with pleasure 'tis heard?
Who but welcomes the visit of spring's sweet bird?
It speaks to the sick one of coming relief,
And beguiles e'en the lonely captive's grief;
'Tis the cuckoo's voice! 'tis the cuckoo's voice
Resounds, and all nature's realms rejoice.
THE golden sun was in the west,
Amber and crimson clouds lay round;
The tir'd breeze sought the water's breast,
And sunk in sleep profound.
Each being seem'd through all the view,
In peace its pleasure to pursue ;
When from her deep, calm, emerald cave,
O'er which the willow rises,
Gently emerging from the wave,
Thus sang the power of Isis.
"What time from subterranean cave The infant stream in gushes burst,
I led the clear dilating wave
To quench the valley's thirst:
Then sweetly upon either side
Gay Flora scatter'd all her pride;
And as the liquid crystal ran,
Through flowing curves and mazes,
The vegetable tribes began
To glow with lovelier graces.
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