The red-breast oft at evening hours In tempests shake the sylvan cell; The tender thought on thee shall dwell: Each lonely scene shall thee restore; ODE ON THE DEATH OF MR. THOMSON. The Scene of the following Stanzas is supposed to lie on the Thames, near Richmond. I. IN yonder grave a Druid lies, Where slowly winds the stealing wave! The year's best sweets shall duteous rise, To deck its poet's sylvan grave! II. In yon deep bed of whisp'ring reeds, The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in ล Then maids and youths shall linger here To hear the woodland pilgrim's knell. IV. Remembrance oft shall haunt the shore When Thames in summer wreaths is drest & And oft suspend the dashing oar To bid his gentle spirit rest! V. And oft as Ease and Health retire To breezy lawn, or forest deep, The friend shall view yon whiteningt spise, VI. But thou, who own'st that earthly bed, Or tears which Love and Pity shed, VII. Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmʼring near; With him, sweet bard, may Fancy die, VIII. But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide + Richmond Church. IX. And see, the fairy valleys fade, Dun Night has veil'd the solemn view! Yet once again, dear parted shade, X. •The genial meads, assign'd to bless XI. Long, long, thy stone and pointed clay Shall melt the musing Briton's eyes: "O vales, and wild woods!' shall he say, 'In yonder grave your Druid lies!' VERSES Written on a Paper which contained a Prece of Bride-cake. YE curious hands, that, hid from vulgar eyes, By search profane shall find this hallow'd cake, With virtue's awe forbear the sacred prize, Nor dare a theft for love and pity's sake. This precious relic, form'd by magic power, Beneath the shepherd's haunted pillow laid, Was meant by love to charm the silent hour, The secret present of a matchless maid. The Cyprian queen, at Hymen's fond request, Each nice ingredient chose with happiest art; Fears, sighs, and wishes of th' enamour'd breast, And pains that please, are mixt in every part. * Mr. Thomson resided in the neighbourhood of Richmond some time before his death. With rosy hand the spicy fruit she brought, From Paphian hills, and fair Cytherea's isle; Ambiguous looks, that scorn and yet relent, Sleep, wayward god! hath sworn, while these remain, And cheerful Hope, so oft invoked in vain, If, bound by vows to Friendship's gentle side O, much entreated, leave this fatal place! Thy careless steps may scare her doves away, AN ODE ON THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS OF THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. 1. HOME! thou return'st from Thames, whose Naiads long Have seen thee ling'ring with a fond delay, Mid those soft friends, whose hearts some future day Shall melt, perhaps, to hear thy tragic song. Go, not unmindful of that cordial youth,' Whom, long endear'd, thou leav'st by Lavant's side; Together let us wish him lasting truth, And joy untainted, with his destin'd bride. Go! nor regardless, while these numbers boast My short-lived bliss, forget my social name; But think, far off, how, on the southern coast, I met thy friendship with an equal flame! Fresh to that soil thou turnʼst, where ev'ry vale Shall prompt the poet, and his song demand: To thee thy copious subjects ne'er shall fail; Thou need'st but take thy pencil to thy hand, And paint what all believe, who own thy genial land II. There must thou wake perforce thy Doric quill; Nor thou, though learn'd, his homelier thoughts These are the themes of simple, sure effect, That add new conquests to her boundless reign, And fill, with double force, her heart-commanding strain. • A gentleman of the name of Barrow, who introduced |