Page:The Seasons - Thomson (1791).djvu/108

 Drooping all night; and, whem he warm returns, Points her enamour'd bosom to his ray.

, from his morning task, the swain retreats; His flock before him stepping to the fold: While the full-udder'd mother lows around The chearful cottage, then expelling food, The food of innocence, and health! the daw The rook and magpie, to the grey-grown oaks That the calm village in their verdant arms, Sheltering, embrace direct their lazy flight; Where on the mingling boughs they fit embower'd, All the hot noon, till cooler hours arise. Faint, underneath, the houshold fowls convene; And, in a corner of the buzzing shade, The house-dog, with the vacant greyhound, lies, Out-stretch'd, and sleepy. In his slumbers one Attacks the nightly thief, and one exults O'er hill and dale; till wakened by the wasp, They starting snap. Nor shall the Muse disdain To let the little noisy summer-race Live in her lay, and flutter through her songs Not mean tho' simple: to the sun ally'd, From him they draw their animating fire.

by his warmer ray, the reptile young Come wing'd abroad; by the light air upborn, Lighter, and full of soul. From every chink, And secret corner, where they slept away The wintry storms; or rising from their tombs, To higher life; by myriads, forth at once, Swarming they pour; of all the vary'd hues Their beauty-beaming parent can disclose. Ten thousand forms! ten thousand different tribes! People the blaze. To sunny waters some By fatal instinct fly; where on the pool They,