Tells us, the day himself's not far. Yet more and more he smiles upon Why should we then suspect or fear So smiles upon us the first morn, Than the best fortunes that do fall; :0: JOHN DRYDEN. 1631-1700. THE GOOD PARSON. And warned the sinner with becoming zeal; But on eternal mercy loved to dwell. He taught the Gospel rather than the Law; And forced himself to drive; but loved to draw. For fear but freezes minds: but love, like heat, Exhales the soul sublime, to seek her native seat. To threats the stubborn sinner oft is hard, Wrapped in his crimes, against the storm prepared; But, when the milder beams of mercy play, He melts, and throws his cumbrous cloak away. Lightning and thunder (heaven s artillery) As harbingers before th' Almighty fly: Those but proclaim His style, and disappear; [there. The stiller sound succeeds, and God is The tithes his parish freely paid he took; But never sued, or cursed with bell or book. With patience bearing wrong, but offering none, Since every man is free to lose his own. The country churls, according to their kind (Who grudge their dues, and love to be behind), The less he sought his offerings, pinched the more, And praised a priest contented to be poor. Yet of his little he had some to spare, To feed the famished and to clothe the bare; For mortified he was to that degree, A poorer than himself he would not see. "True priests," he said, "and preachers of the Word, Were only stewards of their sovereign Lord; Nothing was theirs, but all the public store; Intrusted riches, to relieve the poor. And hungry sent the wily fox away. The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered, Nor to rebuke the rich offender feared. His preaching much, but more his practice wrought, (A living sermon of the truths he taught); For this by rules severe his life he squared, That all might see the doctrine which they heard; He joined not in their choice, because he knew [ensue. Worse might, and often did, from change Much to himself he thought, but little spoke, And, undeprived, his benefice forsook. Now, through the land, his care of souls he stretched, And like a primitive apostle preached. Still cheerful; ever constant to his cal; By many followed; loved by most, admired by all ; With what he begged, his brethren he relieved, And gave the charities himself received. Gave, while he taught; and edified the more, [to be poor. Because he showed by proof, 'twas easy ALONG these blushing borders, bright with dew, And in yon mingled wilderness of flowers, Fair-handed Spring unbosoms every grace; Throws out the snowdrop and the crocus first; The daisy, primrose, violet darkly blue, And polyanthus of unnumbered dyes; The yellow wallflower, stained with ironbrown, And lavish stock that scents the garden round; From the soft wing of vernal breezes shed And full ranunculas of glowing red. Her idle freaks; from family diffused [marks On the charmed eye, th' exulting florist With secret pride the wonders of his hand. No gradual bloom is wanting; from the bud, [tribes; Firstborn of Spring, to Summer's musky Nor hyacinths, of purest virgin white, Low bent, and blushing inward; nor jonquils Of potent fragrance; nor Narcissus fair, Nor, showered from every bush, the SPRING SHOWERS. [shut up THE north-east spends his rage; he now Along the loaded sky, and mingling deep, Into a perfect calm, that not a breath Or rustling turn the many-twinkling leaves Of aspen tall. The uncurling floods, diffused [lapse In glassy breadth, seem through delusive Forgetful of their course. 'Tis silence all, And pleasing expectation. Herds and flocks [eye Drop the dry sprig, and mute-imploring The falling verdure. Hushed in short suspense, [oil, The plumy people streak their wings with To throw the lucid moisture trickling off; And wait the approaching sign to strike, at once, [vales, Into the general choir. Even mountains, And forests seem, impatient, to demand The promised sweetness. Man superior walks Amid the glad creation, musing praise, And looking lively gratitude. At last The clouds consign their treasures to the fields, And, softly shaking on the dimpled pool Prelusive drops, let all their moisture flow In large effusion o'er the freshened world. The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard, By such as wander through the forest walks, But who can hold the shade while Heaven Swift Fancy fired anticipates their growth; clouds Thus all day long the full-distended [showered earth Indulge their genial stores, and wellIs deep enriched with vegetable life ; Till, in the western sky, the downward sun Looks out, effulgent, from amid the flush Of broken clouds, gay shifting to his beam. The rapid radiance instantaneous strikes The illumined mountain, through the forest streams, Shakes on the floods, and in a yellow mist, Far smoking o'er the interminable plain, In twinkling myriads lights the dewy gems. Moist, bright, and green, the landscape laughs around. [wakes, Full swell the woods; their every music Mixed in wild concert with the warbling Meantime, refracted from yon eastern And to the sage-instructed eye unfold Then vanish quite away. Still night Succeeds, A softened shade, and saturated earth Awaits the morning beam, to give to light, Raised through ten thousand different plastic tubes, The balmy treasures of the former day. A WINTER PICTURE. [gods, THE Redbreast, sacred to the household man His annual visit. Half afraid, he first Against the window beats; then brisk alights A listless climate made, where, sooth to No living wight could work, ne cared even for play. Was nought around but images of rest, Sleep-soothing groves and quiet lawns between, [kest And flowery beds that slumbrous influence From poppies breathed; and beds of plea sant green Joined to the prattle of the purling rills Were heard the lowing herds along the vale, And flocks loud bleating from the distant hills, And vacant shepherds piping in the dale; And now and then sweet Philomel would wail, Or stockdoves 'plain amid the forest deep, Full in the passage of the vale above, As Idless fancied in her dreaming mood; |