3

The

ARGU M E N T.

FORD,

The subject proposed. Inscribed to the Countess of HART

The soason is described as is affects the film rious perts of Nature, ascending from the lower to the higher; with digressions arising from the subject. Its influence on inanimate Matter,' on Vegetables, on lsrute Animals, and last, on Nan; conciuding with

asive from the wild and irregular passion of Love, opposed to that of a. pure and happy kind,

COME, gentle Spring, ethereal Mildness, come.
And from the bosom of yon dropping cloud,
While music wakes around, veil'd in a shower
Of shadowing roses, on our plains descend.

O HARTFORD, fitted or to shine in courts &
With unaffected grace, or walk the plain
With iunocence and meditation join'd
In soft assemblage, listen to my song,
Which thy own Season paints; when Nature all
18 blooming and benevolent, like thee.

10

And see where, surly WINTER passes off, Par to the north, and calls his ruffian blasts : His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill, The shatter'd forest, and the ravag'd vale; While softer gales succeed, at whose kind

20

As yet the trembling year is unconfirm’d, And WINTER oft at eve resumes the breeze, Chills the pale morn, and bids his driving

sleets Deform the day delightless: so that scarce The bittern knows his time, with bill ingulplit To shake the sounding marslı; or from the

shore The plovers when to scatter o'er the heath. And sing their wild notes to the listening

waste.

95

At last from Aries rolls the bounteous sun; And the bright Bull receives him.

Then no

more

Th' expansive atmospliere is cramp'd with cold;
But, full of live and vivifying soul,
Lifts the light clouds subline, and spreads

them thin.

30 Fleecy and white, o'er all-surrounding heaven.

FORTH fly the tepid airs; and unconfin’d, Unbinding earth, the moving softness strays. Joyous, th' impatient husbandman perceives Relenting nature, and his lusty steers

They lend their shoulder, and begin their toil,
Chear'd by the simple song and soaring lark. 40.
Meanwhile incumbent o'er the shining share
The master leans, removes th' obstructing clay;
Winds the whole work, and sidelong lays the

glebe.

WHITE thro’ the neighbouring fields the

sower stalks, With measur'd step; and liberal throws the

grain

45 Into the faithful bosom of the ground. The harrow follows harsh , and shuts the.

scene,

Be gracious, HEAVEN! for now laborious.

mant

Has done his part. Ye fostering breezes blow!
Ye softening dews, ye tender showers, des.

cend!

50
And temper all, thou world reviving sung
Into the perfect year! Nor ye who live
In luxury and ease, in pomp and pride,
Think these lost themes unworthy of your ear:
Such themes as these the rural MAR o sung 55
To wide- imperial Rome, in the full height
Of elegance and taste, by Greece refind:
In ancient times, the sacred plough employed
The kings, and awful fathers of mankind:

And some, with whom compar'd your insceto

tribes

60 Are but the beings of a summer's day, Have held the scale of empire, ruld the

storm

Of mighty war; then, with victorious hand,
Disdaining little delicacies, seiz'd
The plough, and greatly independant scornd 65
All the vile stores corruption can bestow..

Ye generous BRITON8, venerate the plough! And o'er your hills, and long withdrawing vales, "Let Autumn spread his treasures to the sun, Luxuriant and unbounded! as the sea, 70 Far thro' his azure turbulent domain, Your empire owns, and from a thousand

shores Wafts all the pomp of life into your ports ; So with superior boon may your rich soil, Exuberant, Nature's better blessings pour 75 O'er every land, the naked nations cloathe, And be th' exhaustless granary of a world!

Nor only thro'the lenient air this change, Delicious, breathes; the penetrative sun, His force deep-darting to the dark retreat 89 Of vegetation, sets the steaming power At large, to wander o'er the vernant earth, In various bues, but chiafly thee, gay Green!