Page:Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse.pdf/254



TO a friend, in whose company the author had witnessed a fine autumnal evening exhibition of clouds, from the bridge on Connecticut River, at Hartford.

WHILE faded nature meekly bends, To wear the robe that Autumn lends, How sweet her varying scenes to trace, Her changeful and retiring grace; While from the bridge that arches high, The alter'd landscape meets the eye! The leafless trees, by winds distrest, The shore, with lingering verdure drest, The passing sails that slowly glide, The river's deep, majestic tide, Which rolling on, with gather'd force From northern climes, in torrents hoarse, Here spreads a mirror, smooth and free, And seeks in haste the expecting sea.

And then that bold, aspiring tow'r, Like chieftain rising in his pow'r, Whose graceful form, and brow sublime, O'erlooks the crowd, and smiles at time; Where gleam the city's fair retreats,