SUMMER.

A

POEM.

=

The text given in full (A) is that of the first edition (1727). B ed. 1730. The MS. notes, written before the publication of the edition of 1744, were made on the latter text.

FROM Southern Climes, where unremitting Day
Burns over Head, illustrious Summer comes,
In Pride of Youth, and felt thro' Nature's Depth.
He comes! attended by the sultry Hours,

5 And ever-fanning Breezes, on his Way;

While, from his ardent Look, the turning Spring
Averts her blushful Face, and Earth, and Skies,
All-smiling, to his hot Dominion leaves.

Hence, let me haste into the mid-wood Shade,
10 Where scarce a Sun-Beam wanders thro' the Gloom;
And, on the dark-green Grass, beside the Brink
Of haunted Stream, that by the Roots of Oaks
Rowls o'er the rocky Channel, lie at large,

15

B

And sing the Glories of the circling Year.

Come, Inspiration! from thy Hermit-Seat,

By Mortal seldom found: may I presume

1, 2 From yonder fields of æther fair disclos'd, || Child of the Sun! illustrious etc. 12 oak 16 may fancy dare,

MS 2 illustrious ] resplendent T

B9

B15

SUMMER.

The text reproduced in full (C) is that of the edition of 1744. The variations from the previous text are printed in italics.

ed. 1746.

D

=

FROM brightening Fields of Ether fair disclos'd,

Child of the Sun, refulgent Summer comes,

In pride of Youth, and felt thro' Nature's Depth:
He comes attended by the sultry Hours,

5 And ever-fanning Breezes, on his way;
While, from his ardent Look, the turning Spring
Averts her blushful Face; and Earth, and Skies,
All-smiling, to his hot Dominion leaves.

Hence, let me haste into the mid-wood Shade,
10 Where scarce a Sun-beam wanders thro' the Gloom;
And on the dark-green Grass, beside the Brink

15

Of haunted Stream, that by the Roots of Oak
Rolls o'er the rocky Channel, lie at large,
And sing the Glories of the circling Year.

Come, Inspiration! from thy Hermit-Seat,
By Mortal seldom found: may Fancy dare,

D9

D15

20

From thy fix'd, serious Muse, and raptur'd Glance
Shot on surrounding Heaven, to steal one Look,
Creative of the Poet, every Power

Exalting to an Extasy of Soul!

With what a perfect, World-revolving Power Were first th'unweildy Planets launch'd along Th'illimitable Void! thus to remain,

Amid the Flux of many thousand Years, 25 That of has swept the busy Race of Men, And all their labour'd Monuments away, Unresting, changeless, matchless, in their Course; To Day, and Night, and the delightful Round Of Seasons, faithful; not excentric once: 30 So pois'd, and perfect, is the vast Machine!

B32

B

17 Glance] eye

After 1. 20 the poetical dedication is inserted :

And thou, the muse's honour! and her friend!
In whom the human graces all unite:
Pure light of mind, and tenderness of heart;
Genius, and wisdom; the gay social sense,
By decency chastiz'd; goodness and wit,
In seldom-meeting harmony combin'd;
Unblemish'd honour; and an active zeal,
For Britain's glory, liberty, and man;
Oh Dodington! attend my rural song,
Stoop to my theme, inspirit every line,

And teach me to deserve thy best applause.

28 To night and day, with the delightful round

MS 22 th'unweildy ] (the cumbrous) T 27 Unresting, changeless]

Firm, unabating T

[25]

(30

ounding Heaven, to steal one Look he Poet, every Power

an Ecstasy of Soul.

›u, my youthful Muse's early Friend,
e Human Graces all unite:

of Mind, and Tenderness of Heart;
Wisdom; the gay social Sense,
chastis'd; Goodness and Wit,
eeting Harmony combin'd;
Honour, and an active Zeal,
Glory, Liberty, and Man:
! attend my rural Song,
Theme, inspirit every Line,
e to deserve thy just Applause.

hat an awful world-revolving Power
'unwieldy Planets launch'd along
Void! Thus to remain,

Lux of many thousand Years,
swept the toiling Race of Men
r labour'd Monuments away,
itting, matchless, in their Course;
temper'd Change of Night and Day,
Seasons ever stealing round,
thful: Such the perfect Hand,
impels, and rules the steady Whole.

D21

D32

ect

B42

When now no more th'alternate Twins are fir'd,
And Cancer reddens with the Solar Blaze,
Short is th'uncertain Empire of the Night;
And soon, observant of approaching Day,

35 The meek-ey'd Morn appears, Mother of Dews!
Mildly elucent in the streaky East;

And, from before the Lustre of her Face,

White, break the Clouds away. With tardy Step Brown Night retires. Young Day pours in a-pace 40 And opens all the lawny Prospect wide.

The dripping Rock, the Mountain's misty Top
Swell on the Eye, and brighten with the Dawn.
Blue, thro' the Dusk, the smoaking Currents shine;
And, from the bladed Field, th'unhunted Hare
45 Limps aukward: while along the Forest-Glade,
The wild Deer trip, and, often turning, gaze
At early Passenger. Musick awakes,

The native Voice of undissembling Joy;

And thick around the wood-land Hymns arise.
50 Rous'd by the Cock, the soon-clad Shepherd leaves
His mossy Cottage, where with Peace he dwells;
And from the crowded Fold, in Order, drives
His Flock, to taste the Verdure of the Morn.

Falsly luxurious, will not Man awake,

55 And starting from the Bed of Sloth, enjoy The cool, the fragrant, and the silent Hour,

To Meditation due, and sacred Song!

And is there ought in Sleep can charm the Wise?
To lie in dead Oblivion, lost to all,

60 Our Natures boast of noble, and divine:

B 33 th'uncertain] the doubtful 36, 37 At first faint-gleaming in the dappled east; || Till far o'er æther shoots the trembling glow; 44 th'unhunted] the fearful 59, 60 losing half ||

The fleeting moments of too short a life?

B66