O DE

ON THE

DEATH of Mr. THOMSON.

By Mr. COLLINS.

[The scene of the following ftanzas is supposed to lie on the Thames near Richmond.]

IN yonder grave a Druid lies,

Where flowly winds the ftealing wave!
The year's beft fweets fhall duteous rise
To deck its Poet's fylvan grave!

In yon deep bed of whispering reeds
His airy harp * fhall now be laid,
That he, whofe heart in forrow bleeds,

May love thro' life the foothing shade.

* The harp of ÆOLUS, of which fee a description in the CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

Then maids and youths fhall linger here,
And while its founds at distance swell,
Shall fadly feem in Pity's ear,

To hear the Woodland Pilgrim's knell.

Remembrance oft fhall haunt the shore

When Thames in fummer wreaths is dreft, And oft fufpend the dashing oar To bid his gentle spirit rest!

And oft as Eafe and Health retire
To breezy lawn, or foreft deep,

The friend shall view yon whitening spire *,
And 'mid the varied landscape weep.

But Thou, who own'ft that earthy bed,
Ah! what will every dirge avail?
Or tears, which Love and Pity fhed,

That mourn beneath the gliding fail!

Yet lives there one, whose heedless

eye

Shall fcorn thy pale fhrine glimm❜ring near?

With him, fweet bard, may Fancy die,

And Joy defert the blooming year.

RICHMOND Church.

But thou, lorn ftream, whofe fullen tide
No fedge-crown'd Sifters now attend,
Now waft me from the green hill's fide
Whofe cold turf hides the buried friend!

And fee the fairy valleys fade,

Dun Night has veil'd the folemn view!

Yet once again, dear parted shade,
Meek Nature's Child, again adieu!

The genial meads affign'd to bless
Thy life, fhall mourn thy early doom,
Their hinds and fhepherd-girls shall dress,
With fimple hands, thy rural tomb.

Long, long, thy ftone, and pointed clay,
Shall melt the mufing Briton's eyes;
O! vales, and wild woods, fhall he say,
In yonder grave Your Druid lies!

AN

ESSAY

ON THE

PLAN AND CHARACTER

OF

THOMSON'S SEASONS.

WHEN a work of art to mafterly execution adds novelty of defign, it demands not only a cursory admiration, but fuch a mature enquiry into the principles upon which it has been formed, as may determine how far it deferves to be received as a model for future attempts in the fame walk. Originals are always rare productions. The performances of artifts in general, even of those who ftand high in their respective claffes, are only imitations; which have more or lefs merit, in proportion to the degree of fkill and judgment with