ODE ON THE DEATH OF THOMSON. 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 III. 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 The friend shall view yon whitening † spire, *The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the CASTLE OF INDOLENCE. + Richmond Church. VI. But Thou, who own'st that earthy bed, Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye VIII. But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide IX. And see, the fairy valleys fade, Dun Night has veil'd the solemn view! X. The genial meads assign'd to bless XI. Long, long, thy stone, and pointed clay DIRGE IN CYMBELINE, SUNG BY GUIDERUS AND ARVIRAGUS OVER FIDELE, SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. To fair Fidele's grassy tomb Soft maids and village hinds shall bring No wailing ghost shall dare appear And melting virgins own their love. The tender thought on thee shall dwell. AN ODE ON THE POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS OF THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND, CONSIDERED AS THE SUBJECT OF POETRY. 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-liv'd 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 turn'st, whose ev'ry vale Shall prompt the poet, and his song demand: To thee thy copious subjects ne'er shall fail; h Thou need'st but take the pencil to thy hand, And paint what all believe who own thy genial land. II. THERE must thou wake perforce thy Doric quill, Where still, 'tis said, the fairy people meet Beneath each birken shade on mead or hill. a ODE ON POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS 67 There each trim lass that skims the milky store. Or, stretch'd on earth, the heart-smit heifers lie. Such airy beings awe th' untutor'd swain: Nor thou, though learn'd, his homelier thoughts neglect; Let thy sweet muse the rural faith sustain; 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. III. Ev'n yet preserv'd, how often may'st thou hear, Strange lays, whose power had charm'd a SPENCER's ear. At ev'ry pause, before thy mind possest, Old RUNIC bards shall seem to rise around, With uncouth lyres, in many-coloured vest, Their matted hair with boughs fantastic crown'd: Whether thou bid'st the well-taught hind repeat * The choral dirge that mourns some chieftain brave, When ev'ry shrieking maid her bosom beat, And strew'd with choicest herbs his scented grave; Or whether, sitting in the shepherd's shiel, Thou hear'st some sounding tale of war's alarms; When at the bugle's call, with fire and steel, * First written, relate. |