And blew a blast so loud and dread, Were ne'er prophetic sounds so full of woe! 45 And, ever and anon, he beat} The doubling drum, with furious heat; And though sometimes, each dreary pause between, Dejected Pity, at his side, Her soul-subduing voice applied, r 50 Yet still he kept his wild unalter'd mein,® While each strain'd ball of sight seem'd bursting from his head.> Thy numbers, Jealousy, to nought were fix'd;" Sad proof of thy distressful state;t 54 Of differing themes the veering song was mix'd; And now it courted Love, now raving call'd on Hate, w With eyes upraised, as one inspired, Pale Melancholy sate retired; And, from her wild sequester'd seat, In notes by distance made more sweet, 60 Pour'd through the mellow horn her pensive soul: And, dashing soft from rocks around, Bubbling runnels join'd the sound; Through glades and glooms the mingled measure stole, 64 Or, o'er some haunted stream, with fond delay, Round an holy calm diffusing, Love of Peace, and lonely musing, In hollow murmurs died away. But O! how alter'd was its sprightlier tone, When Cheerfulness, a nymph of healthiest hue, Her bow across her shoulder flung, 71 Her buskins gemm'd with morning dew, Blew an inspiring air, that dale and thicket rung, The hunter's call, to Faun and Dryad known! The oak-crown'd Sisters, and their chaste-eyed Queen, Satyrs and Sylvan Boys, were seen, Peeping from forth their alleys green: Brown Exercise rejoiced to hear; 75 And Sport leapt up, and seized his beechen spear. Last came Joy's ecstatic trial: He, with viny crown advancing, First to the lively pipe his hand addrest; But soon he saw the brisk awakening viol, 80 Whose sweet entrancing voice he loved the best; They would have thought who heard the strain 85 They saw, in Tempe's vale, her native maids, Amidst the festal sounding shades, To some unwearied minstrel dancing, While, as his flying fingers kiss'd the strings, 89 Love framed with Mirth a gay fantastic round: Loose were her tresses seen, her zone unbound ; And he, amidst his frolic play, As if he would the charming air repay, Shook thousand odours from his dewy wings. O Music! sphere-descended maid, 95 Why, goddess! why, to us denied, O bid our vain endeavours cease; 100 105 110 115 ODE ON THE DEATH OF THOMSON. THE SCENE IS SUPPOSED TO LIE ON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND. a IN yonder grave a Druid lies, In yon deep bed of whispering reeds Then maids and youths shall linger here, Shall sadly seem in pity's ear To hear the woodland pilgrim's knell. 5 10 a The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle of Indolence. 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! And oft, as ease and health retire To breezy lawn, or forest deep, The friend shall view yon whitening spire, But thou, who own'st that earthy bed, That mourn beneath the gliding sail? Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmering near? With him, sweet bard, may fancy die, But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide No sedge-crown'd sisters now attend, Now waft me from the green hill's side, Whose cold turf hides the buried friend! VARIATION. Ver. 21. But thou who own'st that earthly bed. Richmond Church, in which Thomson was buried. 15 20 25 30 |