And from her wild sequester'd Seat, And dashing soft from Rocks around, Bubbling Runnels joind the Sound; Through Glades and Glooms the mingled Measure stole, Or o'er some haunted Stream with fond Delay, Round an holy Calm diffusing, Love of Peace, and lonely Musing, Her Bow a-cross her Shoulder flung, Her Buskins gem'd with Morning Dew, Blew an inspiring Air, that Dale and Thicket rung, The Hunter's Call to Faun and Dryad known! Queen, Peeping from forth their Alleys green; And Sport leapt up, and seiz'd his Beechen Spear. Last came Joy's Ecstatic Trial, He with viny Crown advancing, First to the lively Pipe his Hand addrest, They would have thought who heard the Strain, Amidst the festal sounding Shades, While as his flying Fingers kiss'd the Strings, And HE amidst his frolic Play, O D E ON THE DEATH OF MR. THOMSON TO GEORGE LYTTELTON, ESQ. THIS ODE IS INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR ADVERTISEMENT.-The scene of the following stanzas is supposed to lie on the Thames, near Richmond ODE ON THE DEATH OF THOMSON. I. In yonder grave a Druid lies, Where slowly winds the stealing wave! The year's best sweets shall duteous rise To deck its Poet's sylvan grave! II. In yon deep bed of whisp’ring reeds His airy harp* shall now be laid, That he, whose heart in sorrow bleeds, May love thro’ life the soothing shade. III. Then maids and youths shall linger here, And while its sounds at distance swell, IV. When Thames in summer wreaths is drest, V. To breezy lawn, or forest deep, And 'mid the varied landscape weep. * The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle OF INDOLENCE. + Richmond Church. |