Stowe Gardens described. All-beauteous Nature fears to be outdone. And there, O PITT! thy country's early boast, Or in that Temple where, in future times, 1045 And, with thy converse blest, catch the last smiles 1050 Of Autumn beaming o'er the yellow woods. While there with thee th' enchanted round I walk, The regulated wild; gay Fancy then Will tread in thought the groves of Attic Land; Will from thy standard taste refine her own, 1055 Correct her pencil to the purest truth Or if hereafter she, with juster hand, Shall draw the tragic scene, instruct her thou, 1060 What every decent character requires, And every passion speaks: O through her strain Th' attentive senate, charms, persuades, exalts; 1065 And shakes corruption on her venal throne. Moon-Light. While thus we talk, and through Elysian Vales Delighted rove, perhaps a sigh escapes: 1070 What pity, COBHAM, thou thy verdant files 1075 The western sun withdraws the shortened day; 1080 And humid evening, gliding o'er the sky, In her chill progress, to the ground condens'd 1085 The dusky-mantled lawn. Meanwhile the moon Turn'd to the sun direct, her spotted disk, Where mountains rise, umbrageous dales descend, Northern Lights. And caverns deep, as optic tube descries, 1095 1100 Now through the passing cloud she seems to stoop, 1105 1110 And mix, and thwart, extinguish, and renew, All ether coursing in a maze of light. From look to look, contagious through the crowd, Northern Lights. The panic runs, and into wondrous shapes Of blood and battle; cities overturn'd; And late at night in swallowing earthquake sunk, Or hideous wrapt in fierce ascending flame; Of sallow famine, inundation, storm;' Of pestilence, and every great distress; Empires subvers'd, when ruling fate has struck Th' unalterable hour: ev'n Nature's self 1115 1120 1125 Is deem'd to totter on the brink of time. 1130 Now black, and deep, the night begins to fall, A benighted Traveller. A shade immense! Sunk in the quenching gloom, Distinction lost; and gay variety 1140 One universal blot: such the fair power Of light, to kindle and create the whole. Drear is the state of the benighted wretch, Nor visited by one directive ray, From cottage streaming, or from airy hall. Perhaps impatient as he stumbles on, 1145 Struck from the rout of slimy rushes, blue, The wild-fire scatters round; or gathered trails 1150 1155 |