No more beneath thy hofpitable shade

The fhepherd fwains their amorous defcant fing, Each wanders forth amid the blooming glade

To hail the new-blown daughters of the spring.

Yet, while yon elms, who now fo gaily fpread
Their leafy honors to the vernal gale,

Stood naked to the wintry winds, that shed
Their scatter'd glories o'er the wasted vale;

Thy limbs alone, of all the dreary wood,
Could brave the fnowy drift, and chilling blast;
Against the mingled ftorm uhinjur'd stood,

And mock'd the howling tempeft as it past.

For this, while all the jocund fwains around

The blooming feafon praife with youthful glee,' I'll teach the nodding coverts to refound

A verfe that's due to gratitude and thee.

I'll

I'll rove, where opening flowers their fweets combine,

Where bloffoms fair their varied odours breathe; Then with affiduous hand a garland twine,

And on thy branches hang the votive wreath.

So, while in honor of the fmiling year,

Echoes each hollow dale and every grove,

Thy venerable shade a lay shall hear,

Sacred to friendship firm and conftant love.

ELEGY

ELE GY VIII.

WRITTEN AT MINSTED IN THE NEW FOREST AUGUST 24, 1767.

O

Rifing Sun! on this auspicious day

With brighter beams gild every hill and

grove;

Ye feather'd songsters, breathe a fweeter lay!

And fill the echoing woods with joy and love.

And, honor'd MINSTED, in thy green retreats
Let every tree a prouder foliage wear!

Let every floweret fcatter livelier fweets,
And vernal perfumes scent the autumnal year!

Now has the Sun one annual circuit past,

Since in thy happy fhades these longing arms Receiv'd the choiceft bleffings man could taste,

MARIA's virtues, and MARIA's charms!

Yet

Yet witness every lawn, and every shade!
So dear a blifs my bofom could not know,
When to my breast I clasp'd the yielding maid,

As now her wedded fondness can beftow.

Let other youths, by vice or folly mov'd,
For each new object change their former flame;
And blush to own they love what once they lov'd,
Left virtue fhould approve, and idiots blame.

The fcorn of fools I ever fhall despise;

For ever pleas'd, when by my constant fide MARIA's beauty meets the public eyes,

At home my pleasure, and abroad my pride.

Where gold, not fondnefs, guards the nuptial chain, Weak is the parent's will, the lawyer's art: Blafpheming priefts thofe hearts would join in vain,

Whom GOD and GOD's vicegerent, NA

TURE, part.

But,

But, oh! may we, whofe hearts affection join'd,.

Preferve the bleffing till the close of life!

She in the husband ftill the lover find;

I ftill enjoy the mistress in the wife.

ELEGY