Frances, daughter & Coheir, A Henry Thynne Son of Thomas Earl of Weymouth, Wife of Algernon Seymour Duke of Somerset, and Mother of Elizabeth now Butches of North- amb: so well known in the publications of Mrs Rowe, under the Title of Countess of Hertfords. W1 Written 1750. HILE orient skies restore the day, Amid the sprightly scenes of morn, Ye rural thanes that o'er the mossy down Does nature mean your joys alone to crown? For you does echo bid the rocks reply, And urg❜d by rude constraint refound the jovial cry ? See See from the neighbouring hill, forlorn He finds his labour'd crops a prey; He fees his flock-no more in circles feed; And with no random curfes loads the deed. Your bounded fouls, and your conceptions crude, The proud, the selfish boast disown: Yours be the produce of the foil; Nor ever the defencelefs train Of clinging infants, afk fupport in vain! But tho' the various harveft gild your plains, Athirst ye praise the limpid ftream, 'tis true: It mimic no unpleafing fong, The limpid fountain murmurs not for you. Unpleas'd ye fee the thickets bloom, Unpleas'd the spring her flowery robe refume; Unmov'd the mountain's airy pile, The dappled mead without a smile. O let a rural confcious muse, 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 valley winds, or fountain flows, Or purple heath is ting'd in vain : For fuch the rivers dash their foaming tides, Ev'n thriftless furze detains their wandering fight, And the rough barren rock grows pregnant with delight. With what fufpicious fearful care The fordid wretch fecures his claim, If haply fome luxurious heir Should alienate the fields that wear his name! Bonds, contracts, feoffments, names unmeet for profe, More comprehenfive and more free, Her lavish charter, taste, appropriates all we fee. Let gondolas their painted flags unfold, In nuptial fort, with bridal gold, The 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, Allotted, from his natal hour, With all her myrtle fhores in dow'r. His breaft to admiration prone Enjoys the fmile upon her face, Fatigu'd |