But no kind suns will bid me share, Ah! Spring! thou never canst repair AN IRREGULAR ODE, After Sickness, 1749. Melius, cum venerit ipsa, canemus. IMITATION. His wish'-for presence will improve the song. Too long a stranger to repose, At length from Pain's abhorred couch I rose, To court once more the balmy breeze, And catch the verdure of the trees, 'Twas from a bank with pansies gay, O Sun! how pleasing were thy rays, Rais'd by the scene, my feeble tongue 5 10 15 "Come, gentle Air! my languid limbs restore, "And bid me welcome from the Stygian shore, "For sure I heard the tender sighs, "I seem'd to join the plaintive cries Of hapless youths, who thro' the myrtle grove "Bewail for ever their unfinish'd love; "To that unjoyous clime, "Torn from the sight of these ethereal skies, "Debarr'd the lustre of their Delia's eyes, "And banish'd in their prime. 20 25 "Come, gentle Air! and while the thickets bloom,. "Convey the jasmine's breath divine, “Convey the woodbine's rich perfume, 30 35 "Anxious for futile gains, beneath me stray, [way. “And seek with erring step Contentment's obvious "Come, gentle Air! and thou, celestial Muse! Thy génial flame infuse, "Enough to lend a pensive bosom aid, "And gild Retirement's gloomy shade; 49 "Enough to rear such rustic lays "And foes may slight, but partial friendswillpraise." The gentle air allow'd my claim, And, more to cheer my drooping frame, 45 50 But, ah! the nymphs that heal the pensive mind, By prescripts more refin'd, Neglect their vot'ry's anxious moan: [flown. Oh! how should they relieve?the Muses all were By flow'ry plain or woodland shades I leave behind my native mead, To range where Zeal and Friendship lead, Ah! foolish man! to seek the tuneful maids Scarce have my footsteps press'd the favour'd ground, When sounds ethereal strike my ear; At once celestial forms appear, My fugitives are found! 66 The Muses here attune their lyres, 70 But whilst I wander'd o'er a scene so fair, 80 Glows not a shell on Adria's rocky shore, And some had bent the wild'ring maze, 85 90 Or 'mid the decorated space Assign'd the laurell'd bust a place, And given to learning all the pomp of show; And now from ev'ry task withdrawn, Ah! wo is me, said I, And ***'s hilly circuit heard my cry: And scollop ev'ry winding shore, 95 100 The sapphire stream that down my valley flows? Ah! lovely treach'rous maids! To quit unseen my votive shades, When pale Disease and tort'ring Pain Her native genius guides her hand, And while she marks the sage command, Thus I my rage and grief display, 105 110 115 120 |