FORD. The subject proposed. Inscribed to the Countess of HARTThe season is described as it affects the warious parts of Nature, ascending from the lower to the higher; with digressions arising from the subject. Its influence on inanimate Matter, on Vegetables, on brute Animals, and last, on Man; concluding with a dissuasive from the wild and irregular passion of Love, opposed to that of a pure and happy kind, SPRING, COME, gentle SPRING, ethereal Mildness, come, And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud, While music wakes around, veil'd in a shower Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend. ◊ HARTFORD, fitted or to shine in courts 5 With unaffected grace, or walk the plain With innocence and meditation join'd In soft assemblage, listen to my song, Which thy own Season paints; when Nature all Is blooming and benevolent, like thee. AND see where surly WINTER passes off, Far to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts: His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill, The shatter'd forest, and the ravag'd vale; While softer gales succeed, at whose kind touch, Dissolving snows in livid torrents lost, 15 The mountains lift their green heads to the sky. As yet the trembling year is unconfirm'd, And WINTER oft at eve resumes the breeze, Chills the pale morn, and bids his driving sleets 20 Deform the day delightless: so that scarce The bittern knows his time, with bill ingulpht To shake the sounding marsh; or from the shore The plovers when to scatter o'er the heath. And sing their wild notes. to the listening AT last from Aries rolls the bounteous sun; And the bright Bull receives him. Then no Th' expansive atmosphere is cramp'd with cold; But, full of live and vivifying soul, Lifts the light clouds sublime, and spreads them thin. 30 Fleecy and white, o'er all-surrounding heaven. FORTH fly the tepid airs; and unconfin'd, Unbinding earth, the moving softnels strays. Joyous, th' impatient husbandman perceives Relenting nature, and his lusty steers Drives from their stalls, to where the well us'd plough 35 Lies in the furrow, loosened from the frost. There, unrefusing to the harness'd yoke, They lend their shoulder, and begin their toil, WHITE thro' the neighbouring fields the sower stalks, With measur'd step; and liberal throws the grain 45 Into the faithful bosom of the ground. scene. BE gracious, HEAVEN! for now laborious. man Has done his part. Ye fostering breezes blow! And temper all, thou world reviving sun, And some, with whom compar'd your insect tribes 60 Are but the beings of a summer's day, storm Of mighty war; then, with victorious hand, YE generous BRITONS, venerate the plough! And o'er your hills, and long withdrawing vales, Let Autumn spread his treasures to the sun, Luxuriant and unbounded! as the sea, Far thro' his azure turbulent domain, Your empire owns, and from a thousand shores 70 Wafts all the pomp of life into your ports; So with superior boon may your rich soil, Exuberant, Nature's better blessings pour 75 O'er every land, the naked nations cloathe, And be th' exhaustless granary of a world! NOR only thro'the lenient air this change, Delicious, breathes; the penetrative sun, His force deep-darting to the dark retreat Of vegetation, sets the steaming power At large, to wander o'er the vernant earth, In various hues, but chiefly thee, gay Green! |