Gently ascending from a silvery flood,

Once more she hears the hymeneal strain; Above the palace rose the shaded hill,

Far other voices now attune the lay; The lofty eminence was crowned with wood,

The swelling sounds approach, awhile remain, And the rich lawns, adorned by nature's skill, And then retiring, faint dissolved away; The passing breezes with their odours fill;

The expiring lamps emit a feebler ray, Here ever-blooming groves of orange glow,

And soon in fragrant death extinguished lie: And here all flowers, which from their leaves distil Then virgin terrors Psyche's soul dismay, Ambrosial dew, in sweet succession blow,

When through the obscuring gloom shenought can spy, And trees of matchless size a fragrant shade bestow. But softly rustling sounds declare some being nigh. The sun looks glorious 'mid a sky serene,

Oh, you for whom I write! whose hearts can melt And bids bright lustre sparkle o'er the tide ; At the soft thrilling voice whose power you prove, The clear blue ocean at a distance seen,

You know what charm, unutterably felt, Bounds the gay landscape on the western side, Attends the unexpected voice of love: While closing round it with majestic pride,

Above the lyre, the lute's soft notes above, The lofty rocks mid citron groves arise ;

With sweet enchantment to the soul it steals, 'Sure some divinity must here reside,'

And bears it to Elysium's happy grove; As tranced in some bright vision, Psyche cries, You best can tell the rapture Psyche feels, And scarce believes the bliss, or trusts her charmed eyes. When Love's ambrosial lip the vows of Hymen seals. When lo ! a voice divinely sweet she hears,

Tis he, 'tis my deliverer! deep imprest From unseen lips proceeds the heavenly sound;

Upon my heart those sounds I well recall,' *Psyche approach, dismiss thy timid fears,

The blushing maid exclaimed, and on his breast At length his bride thy longing spouse has found,

A tear of trembling ecstacy let fall. And bids for thee immortal joys abound;

But, ere the breezes of the morning call For thee the palace rose at his command,

Aurora from her purple, numid bed, For thee his love a bridal banquet crowned ;

Psyche in vain explores the vacant hall; He bids attendant nymphs around thee stand, Her tender lover from her arms is fled, Prompt every wish to serve-a fond obedient band.'

While sleep his downy wings had o'er her eyelids Increasing wonder filled her ravished soul,

spread. For now the pompous portals opened wide, There, pausing oft, with timid foot she stole

Illumined bright now shines the splendid dome, Through halls high-domed, enriched with sculp

Melodious accents her arrival hail : tured pride,

But not the torch's blaze can chase the gloom, While gay saloons appeared on either side,

And all the soothing powers of music fail; In splendid vista opening to her sight;

Trembling she seeks her couch with horror pale, And all with precious gems so beautified,

But first a lamp conceals in secret shade, And furnished with such exquisite delight,

While unknown terrors all her soul assail. That scarce the beams of heaven emit such lustre bright. For still

her gentle soul abhors the murderous blade.

Thus balf their treacherous counsel is obeyed, The amethyst was there of violet hue, And there the topaz shed its golden ray,

And now with softest whispers of delight, The chrysoberyl, and the sapphire blue

Love welcomes Psyche still more fondly dear; As the clear azure of a sunny day,

Not unobserved, though hid in deepest night, Or the mild eyes where amorous glances play;

The silent anguish of her secret fear. The snow-white jasper, and the opal's flame,

He thinks that tenderness excites the tear, The blushing ruby, and the agate gray,

By the late image of her parent's grief, And there the gem which bears his luckless name

And half offended seeks in vain to cheer; Whose death, by Phæbus mourned, insured him death Yet, while he speaks, her sorrows feel relief, less fame.

Too soon more keen to sting from this suspension brief ! There the green emerald, there cornelians glow, Allowed to settle on celestial eyes, And rich carbuncles pour eternal light,

Soft sleep, exulting, now exerts his sway, With all that India and Peru can show,

From Psyche's anxious pillow gladly flies Or Labrador can give so flaming bright

To veil those orbs, whose pure and lambent ray To the charmed mariner's half-dazzled sight: The powers of heaven submissively obey. The coral-pavëd baths with diamonds blaze; Trembling and breathless then she softly rose, And all that can the female heart delight

And seized the lamp, where it obscurely lay, Of fair attire, the last recess displays,

With hand too rashly daring to disclose And all that luxury can ask, her eye surveys. The sacred veil which hung mysterious o'er her woes. Now through the hall melodious music stole,

Twice, as with agitated step she went, And self-prepared the splendid banquet stands, The lamp expiring shone with doubtful gleam, Self-poured the nectar sparkles in the bowl,

As though it warned her from her rash intent: The lute and viol, touched by unseen hands,

And twice she paused, and on its trembling beam Aid the soft voices of the choral bands;

Gazed with suspended breath, while voices seem O'er the full board a brighter lustre beams

With murmuring sound along the roof to sigh; Than Persia's monarch at his feast commands: As one just waking from a troublous dream, For sweet refreshment all inviting seems

With palpitating heart and straining eye, To taste celestial food, and pure ambrosial streams. Stillfixed with fear remains, still thinks the danger nigh. But when meek eve hung out her dewy star,

Oh, daring Muse! wilt thou indeed essay And gently veiled with gradual hand the sky, To paint the wonders which that lamp could show! Lo ! the bright folding doors retiring far,

And canst thou hope in living words to say Display to Psyche's captivated eye

The dazzling glories of that heavenly view! All that voluptuous ease could e'er supply

Ah! well I ween, that if with pencil true To soothe the spirits in serene repose :

That splendid vision could be well expressed, Beneath the velvet's purple canopy,

The fearful awe imprudent Psyche knew Divinely formed, a downy couch arose,

Would seize with rapture every wondering breast, While alabaster lamps a milky light disclose. When Love's all-potent charms divinely stood confessed.

small annuity, and through the influence of this criticism, or had enjoyed opportunities for study.
nobleman he was appointed to a situation in the This may be seen from the opening of his principal
Seal-office. In 1810 Bloomfield published a collec- poem :-
tion of Rural Tales, which fully supported his re-
putation ; and to these were afterwards added Wild O come, blest Spirit! whatsoe'er thou art,
Flowers, Hazlewood Hall, a village drama, and May- Thou kindling warmth that hover’st round my heart ;

Sweet inmate, hail! thou source of sterling joy,
That poverty itself can not destroy,
Be thou my Muse, and faithful still to me,
Retrace the steps of wild obscurity.
No deeds of arms my humble lines rehearse;
No Alpine wonders thunder through my verse,
The roaring cataract, the snow-topt hill,
Inspiring awe till breath itself stands still:
Nature's sublimer scenes ne'er charmed mine eyes,
Nor science led me through the boundless skies;
From meaner objects far my raptures flow :
O point these raptures! bid my bosom glow,
And lead my soul to ecstacies of praise
For all the blessings of my infant days !
Bear me through regions where gay Fancy dwells;
But mould to Truth's fair form what memory tells.
Live, trifling incidents, and

grace my song,
That to the humblest menial belong:
To him whose drudgery unheeded goes,
His joys unreckoned, as his cares or woes :
Though joys and cares in every path are sown,
And youthful minds have feelings of their own,
Quick-springing sorrows, transient as the dew,
Delights from trifles, trifles ever new.
'Twas thus with Giles, meek, fatherless, and poor,
Labour his portion, but he felt no more ;
No stripes, no tyranny his steps pursued,
His life was constant cheerful servitude ;
Strange to the world, he wore a bashful look,
The fields his study, nature was his book;
And as revolving seasons changed the scene
From heat to cold, tempestuous to serene,

Through every change still varied his employ, Austin's Farm, the early residence of Bloomfield. Yet each new duty brought its share of joy. day with the Muses. The last was published in the It is interesting to contrast the cheerful tone of year of his death, and opens with a fine burst of Bloomfield's descriptions of rural life in its hardest poetical, though melancholy feeling

and least inviting forms, with those of Crabbe, also O for the strength to paint my joy once more!

a native of Suffolk. Both are true, but coloured That joy I feel when winter's reign is o'er;

with the respective peculiarities, in their style of When the dark despot lifts his hoary brow,

observation and feeling, of the two poets. BloomAnd seeks his polar realm's eternal snow :

field describes the various occupations of a farm boy Though bleak November's fogs oppress my brain,

in seed-time, at harvest, tending cattle and sheep, Shake every nerve, and struggling fancy chain ;

and other occupations. In his tales, he embodies Though time creeps o'er me with his palsied hand,

more moral feeling and painting, and his incidents And frost-like bids the stream of passion stand.

are pleasing and well arranged. His want of vigour

and passion, joined to the humility of his themes, is The worldly circumstances of the author seem to perhaps the cause of his being now little read; but have been such as to confirm the common idea as he is one of the most characteristic and faithful of to the infelicity of poets. His situation in the Seal, our national poets. office was irksome and laborious, and he was forced to resign it from ill health. He engaged in the bookselling business, but was unsuccessful. In his (Turnip-Sowing-Wheat Ripening-Sparrows-Insects latter years he resorted to making Æolian harps,

—The Sky-Lark-Reaping, &c.-Harvest Field.) which he sold among his friends. We have been the farmer's life displays in every part informed by the poet's son (a modest and intelligent A moral lesson to the sensual heart. man, a printer), that Mr Rogers exerted himself to Though in the lap of plenty, thoughtful still, procure a pension for Bloomfield, and Mr Sonthey He looks beyond the present good or ill; also took much interest in his welfare ; but his last Nor estimates alone one blessing's worth, days were imbittered by ill health and poverty. So From changeful seasons, or capricious earth! severe were the sufferings of Bloomfield from con- But views the future with the present hours, tinual headache and nervous irritability, that fears And looks for failures as he looks for showers; were entertained for his reason, when, happily, death For casual as for certain want prepares, stepped in, and released him from the world's poor and round his yard the reeking haystack rears; strife.' He died at Shefford, in Bedfordshire, on the Or clover, blossomed lovely to the sight, 19th of August 1823. The first remarkable feature His team's rich store through many a wintry night. in the poetry of this humble bard is the easy smooth. What though abundance round his dwelling spreads, ness and correctness of his versification. His ear Though ever moist his self-improving meads was attuned to harmony, and his taste to the beauties Supply his dairy with a copious flood, of expression, before he had learned anything of And seem to promise unexhausted food;

That promise fails when buried deep in snow, Close to his eyes his hat he instant bends,
And vegetative juices cease to flow.

And forms a friendly telescope, that lends
For this his plough turns up the destined lands, Just aid enough to dull the glaring light,
Whence stormy winter draws its full demands; And place the wandering bird before his sight,
For this the seed minutely small he sows,

That oft beneath a light cloud sweeps along,
Whence, sound and sweet, the hardy turnip grows. Lost for a while, yet pours the varied song;
But how unlike to April's closing days !

The eye still follows, and the cloud moves by, High climbs the sun and darts his powerful rays; Again he stretches up the clear blue sky; Waitens the fresh-drawn mould, and pierces through His form, his motion, undistinguished quite, The cumbrous clods that tumble round the plough. Save when he wheels direct from shade to light : O'er heaven's bright azure, hence with joyful eyes E'en then the songster a mere speck became, The farmer sees dark clouds assembling rise ; Gliding like fancy's bubbles in a dream, Borne o'er his fields a heavy torrent falls,

The gazer sees ; but yielding to repose, And strikes the earth in hasty driving squalls. Unwittingly his jaded eyelids close. “Right welcome down, ye precious drops,' he cries ; Delicious sleep! From sleep who could forbear, But soon, too soon, the partial blessing flies.

With guilt no more than Giles, and no more care;
'Boy, bring the harrows, try how deep the rain Peace o'er his slumbers waves her guardian wing,
Has forced its way.' He comes, but comes in vain; Nor Conscience once disturbs him with a sting;
Dry dust beneath the bubbling eurface lurks, He wakes refreshed from every trivial pain,
And mocks his pains the more the more he works. And takes his pole, and brushes round again.
Still, ʼmidst huge clods, he plunges on forlorn,

Its dark green hue, its sicklier tints all fail,
That laugh his harrows and the showers to scorn. And ripening harvest rustles in the gale.
E'en thus the living clod, the stubborn fool,

A glorious sight, if glory dwells below,
Resists the stormy lectures of the school,

Where heaven's munificence makes all things show, Till tried with gentler means, the dunce to please, O'er

every field and golden prospect found, His head imbibes right reason by degrees ;

That glads the ploughman's Sunday morning's round ; As when from eve till morning's wakeful hour, When on some eminence he takes his stand, Light constant rain evinces secret power,

To judge the smiling produce of the land. And, ere the day resumes its wonted smiles,

Here Vanity slinks back, her head to hide ; Presents a cheerful easy task for Giles.

What is there here to flatter human pride ? Down with a touch the mellow soil is laid,

The towering fabric, or the dome's loud roar, And yon tall crop next claims his timely aid ; And steadfast columns may astonish more, Thither well-pleased he hies, assured to find

Where the charmed gazer long delighted stays,
Wild trackless haunts, and objects to his mind. Yet traced but to the architect the praise ;

Shut up from broad rank blades that droop below, Whilst here the veriest clown that treads the sod,
The nodding wheat-ear forms a graceful bow, Without one scruple gives the praise to God;
With milky kernels starting full weighed down, And twofold joys possess his raptured mind,
Ere yet the sun bath tinged its head with brown : From gratitude and admiration joined.
There thousands in a flock, for ever gay,

Here, 'midst the boldest triumphs of her worth, Loud chirping sparrows welcome in the day,

Nature herself invites the reapers forth ; And from the mazes of the leafy thorn

Dares the keen sickle from its twelvemonth's rest, Drop one by one upon the bending corn.

And gives that ardour which in every breast
Giles with a pole assails their close retreats,

From infancy to age alike appears,
And round the grass-grown dewy border beats, When the first sheaf its plumy top uprears.
On either side completely overspread,

No rake takes here what Heaven to all bestows-
Here branches bend, there corn o'erstoops his head. Children of want, for you the bounty flows !
Green covert hail! for through the varying year And every cottage from the plenteous store
No hours 50 sweet, no scene to him so dear.

Receives a burden nightly at its door. Here Wisdom's placid eye delighted sees

Hark! where the sweeping scythe now rips along; His frequent intervals of lonely ease,

Each sturdy mower, emulous and strong, And with one ray his infant soul inspires,

Whose writhing form meridian heat defies, Just kindling there her never-dying fires.

Bends o'er his work, and every sinew tries ; Whence solitude derives peculiar charms,

Prostrates the waving treasure at his feet, And heaven-directed thought his bosom warms. But spares the rising clover, short and sweet. Just where the parting bough's light shadows play, Come Health! come Jollity! light-footed come; Scarce in the shade, nor in the scorching day, Here hold your revels, and make this your home. Stretched on the turf he lies, a peopled bed,

Each heart awaits and hails you as its own ; Where swarming insects creep around his head. Each moistened brow that scorns to wear a frown : The small dust-coloured beetle climbs with pain The unpeopled dwelling mourns its tenants strayed : O'er the smooth plantain leaf, a spacious plain ! E'en the domestic laughing dairymaid Thence higher still, by countless steps conveyed, Hies to the field the general toil to share. He gains the summit of a shivering blade,

Meanwhile the farmer quits his elbow-chair, And flirts his filmy wings, and looks around, His cool brick floor, his.pitcher, and his ease, Exulting in his distance from the ground.

And braves the sultry beams, and gladly sees The tender speckled moth here dancing seen, His gates thrown open, and his team abroad, The vaulting grasshopper of glossy green,

The ready group attendant on his word And all prolific Summer's sporting train,

To turn the swath, the quivering load to rear, Their little lives by various powers sustain.

Or ply the busy rake the land to clear. But what can unassisted vision do?

Summer's light garb itself now cumbrous grown, What but recoil where most it would pursue ;

Each his thin doublet in the shade throws down: His patient gaze but finish with a sigh,

Where oft the mastiff skulks with half-shut eye, When Music waking speaks the skylark nigh. And rouses at the stranger passing by ; Just starting from the corn, he cheerily sings, While unrestrained the social converse flows, And trusts with conscious pride his downy wings ; And every breast Love's powerful impulse knows, Still louder breathes, and in the face of day

And rival wits with more than rustic grace Mounts up, and calls on Giles to mark his way. Confess the presence of a pretty face.