HENCE, in old dusky time, a deluge came: When the deep-cleft disparting orb, that arch'd 310 The central waters round, impetous rush'd, With universal burst, into the gulph, And o'er the high-pil'd hills of fractur'd earth Wide-dash'd the waves, in undulation vast'; Till, from the center to the streaming clouds, 315 A shoreless ocean tumbled round the globe. THE seasons since have, with severer sway, Oppress'd a broken world: the Winter keen Shook forth his waste of snows; and Summer shot His pestilential heats. Great Spring, be fore, 320 Green'd all the year; and fruits and blossoms blush'd, In social sweetness: on the self-same bough. Pure was the temperate air; an even calm Perpetual reign'd, save what the zephyrs bland Breath'd o'er the blue expanse for then nor storms 325 Were taught to blow, nor hurricanes to rage; Sound slept the waters; no sulphureous glooms Swell'd in the sky, and sent the lightning forth; While sickly damps, and cold autumnal fogs, Hung not, relaxing, on the springs of life. 330 R But now, of turbid elements the spart, AND yet the wholesome herb neglected dies; Tho' with the pure exhilarating soul Of nutriment and health, and vital powers, Beyond the search of art; 'tis copious blest For, with hot ravine fir'd, ensanguin'd man 340 Is now become the lion of the plain, With hunger stung and wild necessity, Nor lodges pity in their shaggy breast. clay, With every kind emotion in his heart. 350 And taught alone to weep; while from her She pours ten thousand delicacies, herbs, And fruits, as numerous as the drops of rain Or beams that gaye them birth: shall he, fair form! Who wears sweet smiles, and looks erect on heaven, 355 E'er stoop to mingle with the prowling herd, And dip his tongue in gore? The beast of prey, Blood-stain'd, deserves to bleed: but you, ye flocks, What have you done; ye peaceful people, what, To merit death? you, who have given us milk ვნი Jn luscious streams, and lent us your own A coat Against the winter's cold? and the plain ox, High HEAVEN forbids the bold presumptuous strain, Whose wisest will has fix'd us in a state 375 That must not yet to pure perfection rise, Besides, who knows, how rais'd to higher life, From stage to stage, the vital scale ascends? Descends the billowy foam: now is the time, While yet the dark-brown water aids the To tempt the trout. guile, The well dissembled fly, The rod fine-tapering with elastic spring, 385 Snatch'd from the hoary steed the floating line, And all thy slender watry stores prepare. WHEN with his lively ray the potent sun Has pierc'd the streams, and rous'd the finny race, Then, issuing chearful, to thy sport repair; Chief should the western breezes curling play, 395 And light o'er ether bear the shadowy clouds. High to their fount, this day, amid the hills, And woodlands warbling round, trace up the ⚫ brooks; The next, pursue their rocky-channel'd maze, 405 Around the stone, or from the hollow'd bank 415 |