LINES COMPOSED WHILE CLIMBING THE LEFT ASCENT OF BROCKLEY COOMB, SOMERSETSHIRE, MAY, 1795. WITH many a pause and oft reverted eye I climb the Coomb's ascent: sweet songsters near Far off the unvarying Cuckoo soothes my ear. The Yew tree bursts! Beneath its dark green boughs My gaze! Proud Towers, and Cots more dear to me, LINES IN THE MANNER OF SPENSER. O PEACE, that on a lilied bank dost love Who vowed to meet her ere the morning light, But broke my plighted word-ah! false and recreant wight! Last night as I my weary head did pillow With thoughts of my dissevered Fair engrossed, Rejected SLUMBER! hither wing thy way; “But leave me with the matin hour, at most! "As night-closed Floweret to the orient ray, "My sad heart will expand, when I the Maid survey." But LovE, who heard the silence of my thought, And whispered to himself, with malice fraught- "Now, Bard! I'll work thee woe!" the laughing Elfin said. SLEEP, softly-breathing God! his downy wing When twanged an arrow from Love's mystic string, Or did he strike my couch with wizard lance? For straight so fair a Form did upwards start (No fairer decked the Bowers of old Romance) That SLEEP enamoured grew, nor moved from his sweet Trance ! My SARA came, with gentlest Look divine; Whispering we went, and Love was all our theme- He sprang from Heaven! Such joys with Sleep did 'bide, That I the living Image of my Dream Fondly forgot. Too late I woke, and sigh'd- IMITATED FROM OSSIAN. THE stream with languid murmur creeps, In LUMIN's flowery vale: Beneath the dew the Lily weeps Slow-waving to the gale. "Cease, restless gale! it seems to say, "Nor wake me with thy sighing! "The honours of my vernal day "To morrow shall the Traveller come With eager gaze and wetted cheek My wonted haunts along, Thus, faithful Maiden! thou shalt seek The Youth of simplest song. But I along the breeze shall roll The voice of feeble power; And dwell, the Moon-beam of thy soul, In Slumber's nightly hour. |