'Twas from AVONA's banks the maid
Diffus'd her lovely beams;

And every fhining glance difplay'd
The naiad of the streams.

Soft as the wild-duck's tender young,
That float on Avon's tide;
Bright as the water-lily, fprung,
And glittering near its fide.

Fresh as the bordering flowers, her bloom;
Her eye, all mild to view ;

The little halcyon's azure plume
Was never half fo blue.

Her shape was like the reed fo fleek,

So taper, ftrait, and fair;

Her dimpled smile, her blushing cheek,
How charming sweet they were!

Far in the winding Vale retir'd,
This peerless bud I found;

And fhadowing rocks, and woods confpir'd

To fence her beauties round.

Gay lordlings fought her for their bride,

But he would ne'er incline:

"Prove to your equals true, fhe cry'd, As I will prove to mine.

"Tis STREPHON, on the mountain's brow,
Has won my right good will;
To him I gave my plighted vow,
With him I'll climb the hill."

Struck with her charms and gentle truth,
I clasp'd the constant fair;

To her alone I gave my youth,
And vow my future care.

And when this vow fhall faithless prove,
Or I thofe charms forego;

The stream that faw our tender love,

That ftream fhall ceafe to flow.

ODE to INDOLENCE.

A

H! why for ever on the wing
Perfifts my weary'd foul to roam ?
Why, ever cheated, ftrives to bring
Or pleasure or contentment home?

****

1750.

Thus

Thus the poor bird, that draws his name
From paradife's honour'd groves,
Careless fatigues his little frame;
Nor finds the refting-place he loves.

Lo! on the rural moffy bed

My limbs with careless eafe reclin'd; Ah, gentle floth! indulgent spread The fame foft bandage o'er my mind.

For why fhould ling'ring thought invade,
Yet ev'ry worldly profpect cloy?
Lend me, foft floth, thy friendly aid,
And give me peace, debarr'd of joy.

Lov'st thou yon calm and filent flood,
That never ebbs, that never flows;
Protected by the circling wood

From each tempeftuous wind that blows ?

An altar on its bank fhall rife,

Where oft thy votary fhall be found; What time pale autumn lulls the skies, And fickening verdure fades around.

Ye bufy race, ye factious train,

That haunt ambition's guilty fhrine; No more perplex the world in vain, But offer here your vows with mine,

And thou, puiffant queen! be kind:
If e'er I fhar'd thy balmy pow'r ;
If e'er I fway'd my active mind,

To weave for thee the rural bow'r;

Diffolve in fleep each anxious care ;
Each unavailing figh remove;

And only let me wake to fhare,
The sweets of friendship and of love.

ODE to HEALTH. 1730.

HEALTH, capricious maid!

Why doft thou fhun my peaceful bow'r,
Where I had hope to fhare thy pow'r,
And bless thy lafting aid?

Since thou, alas! art flown,

It 'vails not whether mufe or grace,

With tempting fmile, frequent the place;
I figh for thee alone.

Age not forbids thy ftay;

Thou yet might'ft act the friendly part;

Thou yet might'ft raise this languid heart;
Why fpeed fo fwift away?

Thou

Thou fcorn'ft the city-air;

I breathe fresh gales o'er furrow'd ground,

Yet haft not thou my wishes crown'd,
O falfe! O partial fair!

I plunge into the wave;
And tho' with pureft hands I raise
A rura! altar to thy praise,

Thou wilt not deign to fave.

Amid my well-known grove, Where mineral fountains vainly bear Thy boasted name, and titles fair, Why fcorns thy foot to rove?

Thou hear'ft the sportsman's claim;
Enabling him, with idle noife,
To drown the mufe's melting voice,
And fright the timorous game.

Is thought thy foe? adieu

Ye midnight lamps! ye curious tomes!
Mine eye o'er hills and valleys roams,
And deals no more with you.

Is it the clime you flee?
Yet 'midft his unremitting fnows,
The poor LAPONIAN's bofom glows,
And shares bright rays from thee.
I 3

There