John Codrington Bampfylde

Cold is the senseless heart, that never strove
With the mild tumult of a real flame,
Rugged the breast that beauty cannot tame
Nor youth's enlivening graces teach to love.…

'Tis not for Muse like mine, in rude essay,
To paint the beauties of thy Classic Page;
Which ay deserve far other patronage
Than the small meed sincere she fain would pay…

THIS morn ere yet had rung the matin peal,
The cursed Merlin, with his potent spell,
Aggrieved me sore, and from his wizard cell,
(First fixing on mine eyes a magic seal)…

Tho' Winter's storms embrown the dusky vale,
And dark and wistful wains the low'ring year;
Tho' bleak the Moor, forlorn the Cots appear,
And thro' the hawthorn sighs the sullen gale;…

How fearful 'tis to walk the sounding shore,
When low'rs the sky, and winds are piping loud!
And round the beech the tearful maidens croud,
Scar'd at the swelling surge and thunder's roar.…

How pleasant 'tis to walk the silent shore,
When scarce the humming tide can reach mine ear!
Of scatter'd mist the Sun dispels the rear,
And birds of calm the distant wave explore;…

AROUND my porch and lowly casement spread;
The myrtle never-sear, and gadding vine,
With fragrant sweet-briar love to intertwine;
And in my garden's box-encircled bed,…

ALL ye who far from town in rural hall,
Like me, were wont to dwell near pleasant field,
Enjoying all the sunny day did yield,
With me the change lament, in irksome thrall,…

WITH footstep slow, in furry pall clad,
His brows enwreath'd with holly never-sear,
Old Christmas comes, to close the waned year;
And ay the Shepherd's heart to make right glad;…

WHEN that the fields put on their gay attire,
Thou silent sitt'st near brake or river's brim,
Whilst the gay thrush sings loud from covert dim;
But when pale Winter lights the social fire,…

Slow sinks the glimmering beam from western sky,
The woods and hills obscur'd by Evening grey
Vanish from mortal sight, and fade away.
Now with the flocks and yearlings let me hie…

October's flood had all deform'd the lea,
And wintry blasts the forest wide had rent,
When to the Muses Bower I blithsome went:
Pass'd the dank noon away in social glee…

What numerous votaries 'neath thy shadowy wing,
O mild and modest Evening, find delight!
First to the Grove, his lingering Fair to bring,
The warm and youthful Lover, hating light,…

Hail to the sage divine of Milan's plains!
Whose labours reach'd the horrors of the cell,
Brought mercy down from Heav'n with man to dwell,
And curb'd the biting laws, and check'd the reins…

As when, to one who long hath watched, the morn
Advancing, slow forewarns the approach of day,
(What time the young and flowery-kirtled May
Decks the green hedge and dewy grass unshorn…

Friend to the wretch, great Patron of Mankind,
Born to enlighten and reform the age;
Whose energetic and immortal page,
From Nature's laws, hath every art combin'd…

Rings the shrill peal of dawn, gay Chanticleer
Thrice warning that the Day--star climbs on high,
And pales his beam as Phebus' car draws nigh.
Now, ere the lawns or distant cribs appear,…