Those kindlier seasons and that softer sky. Through the long morn, from art to art we roam, (For genius here has ever found a home).
See grace and truth young Newton's brows enwreathe,
From Chantrey's hand the soften'd marble breathe; The wond'ring stranger pausing as he cries,
'Tis he-the friend long lost-that smile, those
Restor❜d are his,-ah! now he time defies!
Pleas'd we behold another Reynolds shine,
Lamented Lawrence! in each touch of thine;
So pure, so true, the aerial colours fall,
And blend with life the animated wall;
Flush'd with rich Nature's hues, the temper'd ray
Steals into shade, and softly melts away.
From Peel's fair eyes such streams of radiance
[glow, On Richmond's cheek such bright carnations While Genius builds his throne on Canning's thoughtful brow.
Or if the Tragic Muse her sceptre wield,
All eye-all ear-intent with tears, I yield
To Kemble's charms-Nature with Art-I hear
Siddons revived again ;—and now appear
(Would he had seen her, but he is no more;
Whom I remember on the midnight floor,
Breathless, with dagger clutch'd, and dripping
Would he had seen her-but the silent bier
Hath pass'd Lausanne's still waters)-now appear
Each sweet reflected form that Shakespeare drew;
Verona's pallid flower surcharg'd with dew,
Young Juliet-ere her bridal robes were worn,
Sleeping with death-alas! that fatal morn!
And she whom Hamlet lov'd, the Danish maid
forlorn.
Sweets to the sweet!-not flowers, but tears we pay,
Charm'd by Thalia's laughing eyes away.
The goddess comes! ah! let not that gay smile,
Breathing each varied grace, thy heart beguile;
Though Mirth and Pleasure kindle on her brow,
Though bright the gleams of love and laughter glow,
Yet thou each soft seductive glance distrust,
And feel that beauty is not always just.
E'en as I speak, behold the Enchantress flies,
While at her feet departing pleasure lies.
Ah! had she still adorn'd the comic scene,
Then all that Oldfield was, had Mordaunt been.
The Poet's page had hail'd her growing fame,
And future Drydens dignified a name,
Of beauty more profuse, and more secure from blame.
One moment linger!-lo! from Venus' bowers Descends the youngest of the roseate Hours: She comes in all her blushing beauty borne, From the far fountains of the purple morn. Aurora's self! what time her brow resumes,
The bright refulgence of its golden plumes.
Sylph of the earth!-the sky!-and oh! as fair
And beauteous as her sisters of the air.
In that sweet form what varied graces meet,
Love in her eye, and music in her feet.
Light as the bounding fawn along the lea,
Or lithe bird glancing on the summer tree,
Light as the foam when Venus leaves the wave,
Or blossoms fluttering over April's grave.
Mark on yon rose lights the celestial tread,
The trembling stalk but just declines its head.
Sweet Ariel floats above her as she springs.
And wafts the flying fair, and lends her wings.
Now wreath'd in radiant smiles she seems to
With buoyant footstep, like Favonius' bride,
Or Psyche, zephyr-borne to Cupid's blushing
Her light symar in lucid beauty streams,
Of woven air, so thin the texture seems;
Round her small waist the zone young Iris binds,
And gives the sandals that command the winds;
A thousand voices challenge Music's throne.
Daughter of Air! this empire is thine own,
Here Taglioni reigns unrivall'd and alone.
Now either park invites to deck yon plain,
See all Palladio's skill revived again.
There the bright palace rears its regal state,
The sculptur'd column and the trophied gate,
Spreads the rich frieze in marble beauty round,
And calls the distant quarry from the ground.
Each mirror'd wall in silver lustre blooms,
And Persia blushes through her flow'ry looms.
There the blue lake reflects the growing scenes,
The glittering terraces, and pendant greens,
How glow its banks! how winds each opening glade,
Thro' blooming thickets, and thro' walks of shade;
A bolder shore the admiring waters lave,
And the green island trembles in the wave.
Mark, where new vistas ope, new temples rise,
And Athens smiles beneath our northern skies.
The Enchanter calls!—the mountain waves its
Through softer vales the obedient rivers flow;
Yon bending arch, where Thames his tribute pours,
Spans the long wave, and weds the opposing
shores,
Pleas'd he receives his granite yoke again,
And glides with gentler murmur to the main.
Now in thy calm suburban walks we stray,
Or catch from beauty's lips the warbled lay,
When masque and music close the long declining
day.
From yon grey Abbey mark the glittering beam, O'er the rich shrines with ruby lustre stream, Lighting the oriel;-tread, ah! gently tread! Each stone a scholar's, or a soldier's bed.
Yon time-worn tombs, and sculptur'd marbles hold
Names, 'mid the mightiest of the earth enroll'd,
Warrior and sage; the eloquent and strong;
Ah! only weak, least valour lead to wrong.
The lips that once admiring nations heard,
The arm, whose strength retreating legions fear'd.
There lies the lightning glance that Rodney flung,
There sleep the thunders of a Chatham's tongue.
Firm 'mid corruption's cry, 'mid faction's band,
The unshaken Abdiel of a faithless land.
(A voice once heard-silent how many a year,
In the mute senate list’ning--' wouldst thou hear
Tully, or him of Tarsus, now draw near!'
Crouch'd the pale minions then-he stood alone
And shook the impending tempest from the throne.
There meek as wise, in all his wisdom just,
And true to nature, there is Newton's dust.
At every step the exulting breast shall glow,
No vulgar weakness force the tear to flow.
The blameless bard, the unblemish'd statesman, all
Whose hearts responsive throbb'd at Freedom's
There lie-alike their task of duty done,
A Somers here, and there an Addison.
To Virtue's eye, awful the dust appears,
The gather'd treasure of a thousand years;
Honour'd, but not deplor'd!---ah! where enshrin'd
As there, the immortality of mind!
The Patriot's breast, the Poet's tongue declare
That half the glory of the world is there.
With awe we visit, oft unmark'd the name,
Each spot that Genius consecrates to fame;
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