Unpleas'd ye fee the thickets bloom, Unpleas'd the fpring her flowery robe refume Unmov'd the mountain's airy pile, The dappled mead without a smile. O let a rural confcious mufe, For well she knows, your froward sense accuse : Forth to the folemn oak you bring the fquare, And span the maffy trunk, before you cry, 'tis fair. Nor yet ye learn'd, nor yet ye courtly train, She, where the pleases kind or coy, Then hither bring the fair ingenuous mind, Lo! not an hedge-row hawthorn blows, Or purple heath is ting'd in vain : For fuch the rivers dash their foaming tides, The mountain fwells, the dale fubfides; Ev'n thriftless furze detains their wandering fight, And the rough barren rock grows pregnant with delight. With With what fufpicious fearful care The fordid wretch fecures his claim, If haply fome luxurious heir Should alienate the fields that wear his name! What scruples left fome future birth Should litigate a span of earth! Bonds, contracts, feoffments, names unmeet for profe, The towering muse endures not to disclose; Alas! her unrevers'd decree, More comprehenfive and more free, Her lavish charter, taste, appropriates all we see. Let gondolas their painted flags unfold, When, to confirm his lofty plea, grave Venetian weds the fea : Each laughing mufe derides the vow; Ev'n ADRIA fcorns the mock embrace, To fome lone hermit on the mountain's brow, With all her myrtle fhores in. dow'r. Enjoys triumphant every grace, Fatigu'd When SOMERSET avoids the great; Does the not sweets in each fair valley find, Ah can fhe covet there to fee The fplendid flaves, the reptile race, That oil the tongue, and bow the knee, When from gay throngs, and gilded fpires, Her philofophic step retires : While ftudious of the moral theme, She, to fome fmooth fequefter'd stream Likens the fwain's inglorious day; Pleas'd from the flowery margin to furvey, How cool, ferene, and clear the current glides away. O blind 1 O blind to truth, to virtue blind, Each future age with rapture dwell; In all that glads the human heart; Yet thefe the fpirits, form'd to judge and prove [love. All nature's charms immenfe, and heaven's unbounded And oh the transport, most ally'd to fong, Or fmoothe below the verdant mead; Or let fome fhelter'd lake ferene [fcene. Reflect flow'rs, woods and spires, and brighten all the O fweet O beauties never known to cloy! While worth and genius haunt the favour'd bow'r, [own. And hails the bounteous work, and ranks it with her Why brand thefe pleasures with the name Of foft, unfocial toils, of indolence and fhame? Search but the garden, or the wood, Let yon admir'd carnation own, Not all was meant for raiment, or for food, Not all for needful ufe alone; There while the feeds of future bloffoms dwell, 'Tis colour'd for the fight, perfum'd to please the smell. Why knows the nightingale to fing? Why flows the pine's nectareous juice? For fuftenance alone? for use? For preservation? Every sphere Shall bid fair pleasure's rightful claim appear. And |