ODE

ON

THE DEATH OF MR. THOMSON.

THE SCENE OF THE FOLLOWING STANZAS IS SUPPOSED TO

LIE ON THE THAMES, NEAR RICHMOND.

IN yonder grave a Druid lies,

Where slowly winds the stealing wave! The year's best sweets shall duteous rise, To deck its poet's sylvan grave!

In yon deep bed of whispering reeds

m

His airy harp shall now be laid;

That he whose heart in sorrow bleeds

May love through life the soothing shade.

5

Ver. 1. Fawkes (in the Poetical Calendar) and Pearch (in his Collection of Poems) give;

In yonder grove a Druid lies,

Langhorne and all modern editors read grave, which is the right reading; for (as Mr. Mitford observes to me) the first line of this ode and the last are meant to be the same, and grove could not with any propriety stand in the last line.

m The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle of Indolence.

Remembrance oft shall haunt the shore,

When Thames in summer wreaths is drest; And oft suspend the dashing oar,

To bid his gentle spirit rest!

And, oft as ease and health retire

15

To breezy lawn, or forest deep,

The friend shall view yon whitening" spire,
And 'mid the varied landscape weep.

20

But thou who own'st that earthy bed,
Ah! what will every dirge avail!
Or tears which Love and Pity shed,

That mourn beneath the gliding sail!

Yet lives there one whose heedless eye

25

Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmering near!

With him, sweet Bard, may Fancy die,
And Joy desert the blooming year.

But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tide

No sedge-crown'd Sisters now attend, Now waft me from the green hill's side Whose cold turf hides the buried friend!

VARIATION.

Ver. 21. Langhorne and others read;

But thou who own'st that earthly bed.

I follow the reading of Fawkes and Pearch.

Richmond church, in which Thomson was buried.

30

And see, the fairy valleys fade;

Dun Night has veil'd the solemn view!

Yet once again, dear parted shade,

35

Meek Nature's Child, again adieu !

The genial meads, assign'd to bless
Thy life, shall mourn thy early doom;
Their hinds and shepherd-girls shall dress,
With simple hands, thy rural tomb.

Long, long, thy stone and pointed clay
Shall melt the musing Briton's eyes:
O! vales and wild woods, shall he say,
In yonder grave your Druid lies!

40

• Mr. Thomson resided in the neighbourhood of Richmond some time before his death.

VERSES

WRITTEN ON A PAPER WHICH CONTAINED A PIECE OF BRIDE-CAKE, GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR BY A LADY.

YE curious hands, that, hid from vulgar eyes,
By search profane shall find this hallow'd cake,
With virtue's awe forbear the sacred prize,
Nor dare a theft, for love and pity's sake!

This precious relic, form'd by magic power,
Beneath the shepherd's haunted pillow laid,
Was meant by love to charm the silent hour,
The secret present of a matchless maid.

The Cyprian queen, at Hymen's fond request,
Each nice ingredient chose with happiest art; 10
Fears, sighs, and wishes of th' enamour'd breast,
And pains that please, are mixt in every part.

With rosy hand the spicy fruit she brought,
From Paphian hills, and fair Cythera's isle ;

14

And temper'd sweet with these the melting thought, The kiss ambrosial, and the yielding smile.

Ambiguous looks, that scorn and yet relent,
Denials mild, and firm unalter'd truth;
Reluctant pride, and amorous faint consent,

And meeting ardours, and exulting youth.

20

Sleep, wayward God! hath sworn, while these remain,
With flattering dreams to dry his nightly tear,
And cheerful Hope, so oft invok'd in vain,
With fairy songs shall soothe his pensive ear.

If, bound by vows to Friendship's gentle side,
And fond of soul, thou hop'st an equal grace,
If youth or maid thy joys and griefs divide,
O, much entreated, leave this fatal place!

25.

Sweet Peace, who long hath shunn'd my plaintive day,
Consents at length to bring me short delight, 30

Thy careless steps may scare her doves away,
And Grief with raven note usurp the night.

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