Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/579

 WILLIAM COLLINS

Then lead, calm votaress, where some sheety lake Cheers the lone heath, or some time-hall ow'd pile,

Or upland fallows grey

Reflects its last cool gleam.

Or if chill blustering winds, or driving rain, Prevent my willing feet, be mine the hut

That from the mountain's side

Views wilds and swelling floods,

And hamlets brown, and dim-discover'd spires, And hearb their simple bell, and marks o'er all

Thy dewy fingers draw

The gradual dusky veil.

While Spring shall pour his> show'rs, as oft he wont, And bathe thy breathing tresses, meekest Eve'

While Summer loves to sport

Beneath thy lingering light;

While sallow Autumn fills thy lap with lea\cs, Or Winter, yelling through the troublous ah,

Affrights thy shrinking train,

And rudely rends thy robes.

So long, regardful of thy quiet rule,

Shall P'anry, Friendship, Science, rose-lipp'd Health

Thy gentlest influence own,

And hymn thy favourite name!

472 Fidele


 * ^O fair Fidele's grassy tomb

A Soft maids and village hinds shall bring Each opening sweet of earliest bloom, And -rifle all the breathing Spring.

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