A lustre shedding o'er the ennobled mind, Stronger than summer-noon; and pure as that, Whose mild vibrations soothe the parted soul, 1735 New to the dawning of celestial day. Hence through her nourish'd powers, enlarged by thee, She springs aloft, with elevated pride, Above the tangling mass of low, desires, That bind the fluttering crowd; and angel-wing'd, Obvious or more remote, with livelier sense, Tutor❜d by thee, hence POETRY exalts 1745 1750 1755 Without thee what were enlighten'd Man? A Savage roaming through the woods and wilds, In quest of prey; and with the unfashion'd fur Rough-clad; devoid of every finer art, And elegance of life. Nor happiness 1770 1775 Nor guardian law were his; nor various skill 1765 1780 Of the SOLE BEING right, who spoke the Word, Compound, divide, and into order shift, 1795 1800 By boundless LOVE and perfect WISDOM form'd, And ever rising with the rising Mind. 1805 THE SEASONS. AUTUMN. INSCRIBED TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ARTHUR ONSLOW, ESQ. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. |