What, were yee born to be An houre or half's delight, And so to bid good night? 'Twas pitie nature brought yee forth Meerly to shew your worth, And lose you quite. But you are lovely leaves, where we Their end, though ne'er so brave: And after they have shown their pride, Like you, awhile they glide Into the grave. HERRICK. 22 FROM RURAL SPORTS. FROM RURAL SPORTS. 'Tis not that rural sports alone invite, When the fresh Spring in all her state is crowned, GAY. ON Leven's banks, while free to rove, And tune the rural pipe to love, I envied not the happiest swain That ever trod the Arcadian plain. Pure stream, in whose transparent wave My youthful limbs I wont to lave; No torrents stain thy limpid source, No rocks impede thy dimpling course, That sweetly warbles o'er its bed, With white, round, polished pebbles spread; Still on thy banks, so gaily green, May numerous herds and flocks be seen, And lasses chanting o'er the pail, The blessings they enjoy to guard! SMOLLETT. A WISH. 1782. MINE be a cot beside the hill; A bee-hive's hum shall soothe my ear; The swallow oft, beneath my thatch, Around my ivied porch shall spring 25 25 TO A SKYLARK. The village church among the trees, And point with taper spire to heaven. CUNNINGHAM. TO A SKYLARK. ETHEREAL minstrel! pilgrim of the sky! Dost thou despise the earth where cares abound? To the last point of vision, and beyond, Mount, daring warbler!—that love-prompted strain Yet might'st thou seem, proud privilege! to sing Leave to the nightingale her shady wood,— A privacy of glorious light is thine; |