THE

HARMONY OF THE CREATION.

"Nor rural sights alone, but rural sounds
Exhilirate the spirit, and restore

The tone of languid Nature."-COWPER.

WHO hath not heard with raptur'd ear
The lark's shrill matin, echoing clear,

While grove and meadow, far and near,
Resound with tuneful melody?

How sweet, how full, the blackbird's note

Seems on the morning gale to float,

While many a warbler strains his throat

To aid the cheerful harmony!

When, at fierce noon, the sun rides high,

How sweet on river's brink to lie,

Safe shelter'd from a cloudless sky,
Some shady tree for canopy!

There listen to the murmuring stream,

Like one entranc'd in moody dream;

Then mark on distant sail the beam

Of sun-shine glist'ning cheerfully.

And oh! what tuneful notes resound,

What heavenly music all around,

When, reach'd his daily journey's bound,

Bright Phoebus sets resplendently!

Oft have I loiter'd on my way,

While choristers on every spray

Sang vespers to the closing day,

And vied in sweetest symphony!

Is there, whose sensual, grovelling mind, By taste, by virtue unrefin'd;

Can hear this melody combin'd,

And not enjoy such minstrelsy?

In vain to him returning spring

Bids flowrets blow, or songsters sing;

Their charms no heartfelt raptures bring,

Nor wake to mental ecstasy.

Not so the man divinely taught;
His soul, with nobler feelings fraught,
Ascends on wings of heavenly thought
To GOD, the source of Harmony.

In all the music of the grove,

He hears a song of joy and love,

Praising the name of Him above,

The one, eternal DEITY!

IMITATION OF BURNS.

COULD I but fly to that calm, peaceful shore,

Where shades of the bless'd suffer anguish no more,

There should I sorrow not,

Mis'ry and grief forgot,

Rapture and joy my lot,

Unfelt before!