James Thomson

Flocks thick-nibbling through the clovered vale.

Sighed and looked unutterable things.

For many a day, and many a dreadful night, Incessant lab'ring round the stormy cape.

And Mecca saddens at the long delay.

Ships dim-discovered dropping from the clouds.

But yonder comes the powerful king of day, Rejoicing in the east.

Falsely luxurious, will not man awake?

The meek-ey'd Morn appears, mother of dews.

The kiss, snatch'd hasty from the sidelong maid.

There studious let me sit, And hold high converse with the mighty dead.

Cruel as death, and hungry as the grave.

Thither the household feathery people crowd, The crested cock, with all his female train.

See, Winter comes to rule the varied year, Sullen and sad.

I know no subject more elevating, more amazing, more ready to the poetical enthusiasm, the philosophical reflection, and the moral sentiment than the works of nature. Where can we meet such variety, such beauty, such magnificence?

But I lose Myself in Him, in Light ineffable! Come then, expressive Silence, muse His praise. These, as they change, Almighty Father, these Are but the varied God. The rolling Year Is full of Thee.

These as they change, Almighty Father! these Are but the varied God. The rolling year Is full of Thee.

When Britain first, at Heaven's command, Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of the land, And guardian angels sung this strain: 'Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never, never, never shall be slaves.'

O Sophonisba! Sophonisba, O!

Whoe'er amidst the sons Of reason, valour, liberty, and virtue Displays distinguish'd merit, is a noble Of Nature's own creating.

Forever, Fortune, wilt thou prove An unrelenting foe to love, And, when we meet a mutual heart, Come in between and bid us part?

At the throng'd levee bends the venal tribe: With fair but faithless smiles each varnish'd o'er, Each smooth as those that mutually deceive, And for their falsehood each despising each.