Thence with death-dooming eye survey:

Channels by rocky torrents torn,
Rocks to the lake in thunder borne,
Or such as o'er our heads appear
Suspended in their mid career,

To start again at his command,
Who rules fire, water, air, and land,
I view with wonder and delight,
A pleasing, tho' an awful sight:
For, seen with them, the verdant Isles
Soften with more delicious smiles,

More tempting twine their opening bowers,
More lively glow the purple flowers,
More smoothly slopes the border gay,
In fairer circle bends the bay,
And last, to fix our wandering eyes,
Thy roofs, O Keswick, brighter rise
The lake and lofty hills between,
Where giant Skiddow shuts the scene.

Supreme of mountains, Skiddow, hail!,
To whom all Britain sinks a vale!
Lo, his imperial brow I see

From foul usurping vapors free!

'Twere glorious now his side to climb, Boldly to scale his top sublime!

And thence-my Muse, these flights forbear,

Nor with wild raptures tire the Fair.

Hills, rocks, and dales have been too long

The subject of thy rambling song.

Far other scenes their minds employ, And move their hearts with softer joy. For pleasures they need never roam, Theirs with affection dwell, at home. Thrice happy they at home to prove A Parent's and a Brother's love; Her bright example pleas'd to trace, Learn every virtue, every grace, Which lustre give in female life To daughter, sister, parent, wife : Grateful to see her guardian care A tender Father's loss repair, And, rising far o'er grief and pain, The glories of her race maintain.

Their ancient seats let others fly,
To roll beneath a foreign sky,
Or loitering in their villas stay,
Till useless summers waste away,
While, hopeless of their lord's return,
The poor exhausted tenants mourn;
From Lowther she disdains to run
To bask beneath a southern sun,
Opens the hospitable door,

Welcomes the friend, relieves the poor;
Bids tenants share the lib'ral board,
And early know and love their Lord,
Whose courteous deeds to all extend,
And make each happy guest a friend,
To smiling Earth the grateful Main

Thus gives her gather'd streams again
In showers on hill, and dale, and plain.

O may the virtues which adorn With modest beams his rising morn, Unclouded grow to perfect day! May He with bounty's brightest ray The natives chear, enrich the soil, With arts improve, reward their toil, Glad with kind warmth, our northern sky, generous Lonsdale's loss supply.

And

EPISTLE VII.

(WRITTEN IN THE CLOSE OF WINTER)

TO A

FRIEND,

JUST LEAVING A FAVORITE RETIREMENT,

Previous to settling abroad.

BY

THE REV. SAMUEL HENLEY,
F. S. A.

ERE yet your footsteps quit the place
Your presence long hath deign'd to grace,
With softening eye and heart deplore

The conscious scenes your own no more.

When vernal clouds their influence shower, Expand the bud, and rear the flower, Who to yon leafing grove will come Where the rath primrose loves to bloom, And fondly seek with heedful tread The forward floret's downy head? Or, when the violet leaves the ground, Scent the pure perfume breathing round?

Epist. VII.

EPISTLES DESCRIPTIVE, &c.

61

The garden tribes that gladlier grew
While cherish'd by your fostering view,
No more resume their wonted hues,
No more their wonted sweets diffuse.

Who first will spy the swallow's wing,
Or hear the cuckoo greet the Spring?
Unmark'd shall then th' assiduous dove
With ruffling plumage urge his love;
Unnoted, though in lengthen'd strain,
The bashful nightingale complain!

O'er the broad down who then delight,
Led by the lapwing's devious flight,
To see her run and hear her cry,

Most clamorous when least danger's nigh?

Who listless now will sauntering stay
Where rustics spread th'unwither'd hay,
And o'er the field survey askance
The wavy vapor quivering dance?
Or sunk supine with musing eye
Listen the hum of noon-day fly?
Or watch the bee from bell to bell
Where shelter'd lilies edge the dell?
Or mid the sultry heat reclin'd
Beneath the poplar woo the wind,
While to the lightest air that strays
Each leaf its hoary side displays?