: THE TREACHEROUS REFRESHMENT. As beneath a huge tree in a hot summers day, Overcome with fatigue I at length laid me down, Close to which a clear stream shap'd its smooth pebbled way, That meandring divided a distant old town. There I mark'd its wild course, felt the cool fanning too Ye sons of hard industry! vouch ye for me, How kind the cool comfort that clung to my brow, For oft have ye sought out the stream and the tree, And blest the mild moisture and shade of the bough. Your transports were mine, for I felt thro' my veins Thus del rium'd with pleasure, determin'd to stay, THE TREACHEROUS REFRESHMENT. 25 Yet scarce had bright Venus with eye soft and clear, Pierc'd the smooth glassy stream that so ravish'd my sight, Than shivering I felt the moist evil too near, And I found to my cost as I sought out my cot, And I felt that 'twas PRUDENCE alone cou'd steer clear, C NIGHT. A POEM. 0 WELCOME THOU, that from thy shadowy car, Sometimes art pleas'd to shew thy cloudless form, And to our low Earth, kind, tho' coldly bend Thy silver eyes set in etherial blue; Who mindful of thy stated distance, still In chasten'd splendour hold'st thy constant course, Where'er bright PHOEBUS in his gorgeous vest His yet unwearied steeds triumphant drives, And from his chariot flings refulgent DAY! Thy forehead in his setting radiance wreath'd, Press'd by his rising ray thy flying feet : Or sometimes wrapt in web of thickest woof, Veil'd the mild lustre of unnumber'd gems That bind thy brow and deck thy azure zone, In sullen grandeur sail'st Heaven's arch along; But howsoe'er thou sweep'st the fields of air, Whether in spangled stole of lengthen'd light, In the close wrapper of the hooded dark, Or yet in flecker'd clouds of various shade, Half hid, and half reveal'd thy gracious smile, Still art thou welcome to thy votary's gaze I And much of thee and of thy influence, NIGHT, Sober and chaste!-the modest Muse wou'd sing. Thee I invoke, with most imploring soul! To guide enquiry, and conduct my steps, Thro' thy pale glimm'ring and thy thickest gloom; That I may lash the traitors to thy laws, Cz Yet underneath perhaps, the self same roof, By thee O NIGHT! instructed so to do, The beast his bed forms on the dewy grass, The birds to roost them in the shady trees, The fishes to their oozy banks repair; Reptiles and insects to their holds unseen; Young Vegetation wooes thee to her arms, Worn out and ravish'd with the burning bliss Of fiery Phœbus' uncontroul'd embrace ; And in the sighs of many a dying breeze, Languishes thy delay-and much she pants For the cool kisses of thy dewy lips, And the soft pressure of thy tender touch.Sweet is the meeting-grateful is the fair; Her womb prolific, self-impregn'd, brings forth At early morn, assisted but by thee, The liberal produce of the springing toil; |