Page:The Seasons - Thomson (1791).djvu/163

 Shot up their spires; the bellying sheet between Possess'd the breezy void; the sooty hulk Steer'd sluggish on; the splendid barge along Row'd, regular, to harmony; around, The boat, light-skimming, stretch'd its oary wings; While deep the various voice of fervent toil From bank to bank increas'd; whence ribb'd with oak, To bear the, black, and bold. The roaring vessel rush'd into the main.

too the pillar'd dome, magnific, heav'd Its ample roof; and luxury within Pour'd out her glittering stores: the canvas smooth, With glowing life protuberant, to the view Embodied rose; the statue seem'd to breathe, And soften into flesh, beneath the touch Of forming art, imagination-flush'd.

is the gift of ; whate'er Exalts, embellishes, and renders life Delightful. Pensive Winter chear'd by him Sits at the social fire, and happy hears Th' excluded tempest idly rave along; His harden'd fingers deck the gaudy Spring; Without him Summer were an arid waste; Nor to th' Autumnal months could thus transmit Those full, mature, immeasurable stores, That, waving round, recall my wandering song.

as the morning trembles o'er the sky, And, unperceiv'd, unfolds the spreading day, Before the ripened field the reapers stand, In fair array; each by the lass he loves, To bear the rougher part, and mitigate By nameless gentle offices her toil. At once they stoop and swell the lusty sheaves; While