32 ENGLISH SCENERY. And, posted on this speculative height, There, from the sunburnt hay-field homeward creeps The loaded wain; while, lightened of its charge, The wain that meets it passes swiftly by; The boorish driver leaning o'er his team Nor less attractive is the woodland scene, Alike, yet various. Here the gray smooth trunks THE HILLSIDE FLOWER. Of deeper green the elm; and deeper still, Diffusing odors: nor unnoted pass The sycamore, capricious in attire, Now green, now tawny, and, ere autumn yet COWPER. THE HILLSIDE FLOWER. FLOWER upon the green hillside, Thou, to shun the threatening blast, In the grass thy head dost hide, By the tempest overpast. Then, to greet the azure skies, 5 33 34 THE HILLSIDE FLOWER. Brighter-sweeter-dost thou rise! Tell me, flower, how this is done! “I will tell thee, as a friend, At the blast, 'tis good to bend! "While his teaching I obey, I but fall to rise, and stand, Brighter for the stormy day, "When to him I've lowly bowed, "So I sink, and so I rise- GOULD. THE SKYLARK. 35 THE SKYLARK. BIRD of the wilderness, Blithesome and cumberless, Sweet be thy matin o'er moorland and lea! Blest is thy dwelling-place Oh to abide in the desert with thee! Wild is thy lay, and loud, Far in the downy cloud, Love gives it energy, love gave it birth. Where, on thy dewy wing, Where art thou journeying? Thy lay is in heaven, thy love is on earth. O'er fell and fountain sheen, O'er moor and mountain green, O'er the red streamer that heralds the day, Over the cloudlet dim, Over the rainbow's rim, Musical cherub, soar, singing away! Then, when the gloaming comes, Low in the heather blooms, Sweet will thy welcome and bed of love be! Emblem of happiness, Blest is thy dwelling-place,— Oh to abide in the desert with thee! HOGG. SUNRISE. I MARVEL not, O Sun! that unto thee In adoration man should bow the knee, And pour his prayers of mingled awe and love; For like a God thou art, and on thy way Of glory sheddest with benignant ray, Beauty, and life, and joyance from above. No longer let these mists thy radiance shroud,These cold raw mists that chill the comfortless day, But shed thy splendor through the opening cloud, And cheer the earth once more. The languid flowers Lie odorless, bent down with heavy rain, Earth asks thy presence, saturate with showers! O lord of light! put forth thy beams again, For damp and cheerless are the gloomy hours. SOUTHEY. |