Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

78

Conftantinople.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

WHERE the Thracian channel roars
On lordly Europe's eastern shores,
Where the proudly jutting land
Frowns on Afia's western strand,
High on seven hills is feen to shine
The fecond Rome of Conftantine.
Beneath her feet with graceful pride
Propontis spreads his ample tide,
His fertile banks profufely pour
Of luscious fruits a varied ftore,
Rich with a thousand glittering dyes
His flood a finny fhoal fupplies,
While crowding fails on rapid wing
The rifled fouth's bright treasures bring.
With crefcents gleaming to the skies
Mofques and minarets arife,
Mounted on whofe topmoft wall
The turban'd priests to worship call;
The mournful cypress rises round
Tap'ring from the burial-ground;
Olympus ever capped with fnow
Crowns the busy scene below.

ORIGINAL.

The Thames.

79

THE THAMES.

THIS fcene how rich from Thames's fide,
While ev'ning funs their amber beam
Spread o'er the glaffy-furfac'd tide,
And 'mid the mafts and cordage gleam;
Blaze on the roofs with turrets crown'd,
And gild green pastures ftretch'd around,
And gild the flope of that high ground
Whofe corn-fields bright the prospect bound!

The white fails glide along the shore,
Red streamers on the breezes play,
The boatmen ply the dashing oar,
And wide their various freight convey;
Some Neptune's hardy thoughtless train,
And fome the careful fons of gain,
And fome the fportive nymph and swain
Lift'ning to mufic's foothing ftrain.

But here, while these the fight allure,
Still fancy wings her flight away
To woods reclufe and vales obfcure,
And streams that solitary stray;

Το

80

The Tempestuous Evening.

To view the pine-grove on the hill,
The rocks that trickling springs diftill,
The meads that quiv'ring afpens fill,
Or alders crowding o'er the hill.

SCOT.

THE TEMPESTUOUS EVENING.

THERE'S grandeur in this founding ftorm,
That drives the hurrying clouds along,
That on each other feem to throng,
And mix in many a varied form;
While bursting now and then between,
The moon's dim mifty orb is feen,

And cafts faint glimpses on the green.

Beneath the blaft the forefts bend,
And thick the branchy ruin lies,
And wide the shower of foliage flies:
The lake's black waves in tumult blend,
Revolving o'er and o'er and o'er,
And foaming on the rocky fhore,
Whofe caverns echo to their roar.

}

}

But

The Pleasant Evening.

But can my foul the scene enjoy
That rends another's breast with pain?
O, hapless he, who, near the main,
Now fees its billowy rage destroy!
Beholds the found'ring bark defcend,
Nor knows but what its fate may end
The moments of his dearest friend!

81

}

SCOT.

THE PLEASANT EVENING.

DELIGHTFUL looks this clear calm sky,
With Cynthia's orb on high!

Delightful looks this smooth green ground,
With fhadows caft from cots around;
Quick twinkling luftre decks the tide,
And cheerful radiance gently falls
On that white town and castle walls,
That crown the fpacious river's further fide.

And now along the echoing hills
The night-bird's strain melodious trills;
And now the echoing dale along
Soft flows the fhepherd's tuneful fong;

And

82

Defcription of a Cottage.

And now, wide o'er the water borne,

The city's mingled murmur fwells,

And lively change of diftant bells,

And varied warbling of the deep-ton'd horn.

SCOT.

DESCRIPTION OF A COTTAGE.

WHERE o'er the brook's moift margin hazels meet,
Stands my lone home,-a pleasant, cool retreat.
Gay looseftrife there and pale valerian spring,
And tuneful reed-birds 'mid the fedges fing.
Among green ofiers winds my ftream away,
Where the blue halcyon fkims from spray to spray,
Where waves the bulrufh as the waters glide,
And yellow flag-flowers deck the funny fide.
Eaft from my cottage stretch delightful meads,
Where rows of willows rife, and banks of reeds;
There roll clear rivers; there, old elms between,
The mill's white roof and circling wheels are
feen.

SCOT.

« ПредишнаНапред »