Alighted, bolder up again they lead, Farther and farther on, the lengthening flight; HIGH from the fummit of a craggy cliff, SHOULD I my steps turn to the rural feat, Whofe lofty elms, and venerable oaks, Invite the rook, who high amid the boughs, 750 755 760 765 * The fartheft of the western islands of Scotland, In early Spring, his airy city builds, And ceafelefs caws amufive; there, well-pleas'd, Of the mix'd houfhold kind. The careful hen Calls all her chirping family around, Fed and defended by the fearlefs cock; Whose breaft with ardour flames, as on he walks 770 775 Loud-threatning, reddens; while the peacock spreads His every-colour'd glory to the fun, 781 And fwims in radiant majefty along. O'er the whole homely fcene, the cooing dove The glancing eye, and turns the changeful neck. 785 WHILE thus the gentle tenants of the shade Indulge their purer loves, the rougher world Of brutes, below, rufh furious into flame, And fierce defire. Thro' all his lufty veins The bull, deep-fcorch'd, the raging paffion feels. 790 Scarce feen, he wades among the yellow broom, 795 Crops, tho' it preffes on his careless sense. And oft, in jealous madning fancy wrapt, Him fhould he meet, the bellowing war begins: 800 Whence the fand flies, they mutter bloody deeds, And groaning deep, th' impetuous battle mix : 806 810 And by the well known joy to diftant plains Th' 815 Th' exciting gale; then, fteep descending, cleaves The headlong torrents foaming down the hills, Even where the madness of the ftraiten'd stream Turns in black eddies round; fuch is the force With which his frantic heart and finews fwell, NOR undelighted by the boundless Spring Are the broad monsters of the foaming deep : From the deep ooze and gelid cavern rous'd, They flounce and tumble in unwieldy joy. 829 Dire were the ftrain, and dissonant, to sing How by this flame their native wrath fublim'd, They roam, amid the fury of their heart, 825 The far-refounding waste in fiercer bands, 839 And growl their horrid loves. But this the theme Invites them forth; when swift, the fignal given, Of iron war, in ancient barbarous times, 840 Loft in eternal broil: ere yet fhe grew To this deep-laid indiffoluble ftate, Where Wealth and Commerce lift their golden heads; And o'er our labours, Liberty and Law, Impartial, watch; the wonder of a world! 845 WHAT is this mighty Breath, ye fages, fay, That, in a powerful language, felt not heard, Inftructs the fowls of heaven; and thro' their breaft These arts of love diffufes? What, but GOD? Infpiring GOD! who boundless Spirit all, And unremitting Energy, pervades, Adjusts, sustains, and agitates the whole, He ceafelefs works alone; and yet alone Seems not to work with fuch perfection fram'd' But, tho' conceal'd, to every purer eye Th' informing Author in his works appears: Chief, lovely Spring, in thee, and thy soft scenes, 850 855 The |