Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray and Smollett

Spring

1 Stern Winter now, by Spring repress’d,
      Forbears the long-continued strife;
    And Nature, on her naked breast,
      Delights to catch the gales of life.

2 Now o’er the rural kingdom roves
      Soft Pleasure with her laughing train;
    Love warbles in the vocal groves,
      And Vegetation paints the plain.

3 Unhappy! whom to beds of pain
      Arthritic tyranny consigns;
    Whom smiling Nature courts in vain,
      Though Rapture sings, and Beauty shines.

4 Yet though my limbs disease invades,
      Her wings Imagination tries,
    And bears me to the peaceful shades
      Where ——’s humble turrets rise.

5 Here stop, my soul, thy rapid flight,
      Nor from the pleasing groves depart,
    Where first great Nature charm’d my sight,
      Where Wisdom first inform’d my heart.

6 Here let me through the vales pursue
      A guide—a father—and a friend;
    Once more great Nature’s works renew,
      Once more on Wisdom’s voice attend.

7 From false caresses, causeless strife,
      Wild hope, vain fear, alike removed,
    Here let me learn the use of life,
      When best enjoy’d—when most improved.

8 Teach me, thou venerable bower!
      Cool Meditation’s quiet seat,
    The generous scorn of venal power,
      The silent grandeur of retreat.

9 When pride by guilt to greatness climbs,
      Or raging factions rush to war,
    Here let me learn to shun the crimes
      I can’t prevent, and will not share.

10 But lest I fall by subtler foes,
       Bright Wisdom, teach me Curio’s art,
     The swelling passions to compose,
       And quell the rebels of the heart!