COLLECTION

OF

POEMS

IN SIX VOLUMES.

BY

SEVERAL HANDS.

LONDON: Printed by J. HUGHS,

For J. DODSLEY, in PALL MALL.

MDCCLXVI.

RURAL ELEGANCE:

An ODE to the late Duchefs of SOMERSET.

Written 1750.

By WILLIAM SHENSTONE, Efq;

W

I,

HILE orient skies restore the day,

And dew-drops catch the lucid ray;

Amid the sprightly fcenes of morn,
Will aught the Muse inspire?
Oh! peace to yonder clamorous horn
That drowns the facred lyre!

VOL. V.

A

II. Ye

II.

Ye rural thanes that o'er the moffy down Some ranting, timorous hare pursue ; Does Nature mean your joys alone to crown? Say, does the fmoothe her lawns for you? For you does Echo bid the rocks reply, And urg'd by rude conftraint refound the jovial cry?

III.

See from the neighbouring hill, forlorn
The wretched fwain your fport furvey;

He finds his faithful fences torn,

He finds his labour'd crops a prey;

He fees his flock·

no more in circles feed;

Haply beneath your ravage bleed,

And with no random curfes loads the deed.

Your bounded fouls, and your conceptions crude,

The proud, the selfish boaft disown:

Yours be the produce of the foil;

O may

it ftill reward your toil!

Nor ever the defenceless train

Of clinging infants, afk fupport in vain !

V.

But though the various harvest gild your plains,

Does the mère landscape feast your eye?

Or the warm hope of diftant gains

Far other caufe of glee supply?

3