Abandon Surry's smiling plains,
Fly the lov'd roof where Friendship reigns,
Where liberal Mirth that care beguiles,
And calm Contentment's heav'nly smiles
Their heart-enlivening influence shed;
Where Time throws off his wings of lead,
And clad in purple plumage light,
Speeds swifter than the winds his flight.
Thence as my devious course I steer,
FANCY in fairy visions clear
Bids, to beguile my 'tranced eyes,
Past joys in sweet succession rise:
Refreshing Zephyr's balmy breath
Bids me inhale where Ascot Heath,
Impregnated with mild perfume,
Bares its broad bosom's purple bloom:
Gives to my view the splendid crowd,
The high-born racer neighing loud,
The manag'd steeds that, side by side,
Precede the glittering chariot's pride,
Within whose silken coverture
Some peerless Beauty sits secure,
And, fatal to the soul's repose,
Around her thrilling glances throws.
Enchantress, whose all-powerful spell
We felt, when WARTON'S dulcet Shell
(A choice libation at thy shrine)
Pour'd the stream of Song divine,*
O FANCY! speed with me thy flight,
O'er oaks in richest verdure dight,
Whose writhed limbs of giant mould
Wave to the breeze their umbrage bold;
Bear me, embowering shades between,
Through many a glade and vista green
Whence silver streams are seen to glide,
And towering domes th' horizon hide,
To Leonard's forest-fringed Mound;
Where lavish Nature spreads around
Whate'er can captivate the sight,
Elysian lawns, and prospects bright
As visions of expiring saints,
Or scenes that Harcourt's pencil paints. +
Bear me where 'midst enamell'd meads
Redundant Thames his bounty sheds,
Teeming with many a plenteous freight:
Where o'er the vale in antique state
* The late Dr. WARTON's exquisite Ode to Fancy.
+ The Lady of General Harcourt, of St. Leonard's Hill.
Imperial Windsor's turrets frown,
And massy fanes of old renown.
Give me to gaze with ardent eye
On gorgeous spoils of Chivalry;
To ken aloft the radiant rows
Of banners won from Britain's foes;
Recall the glorious deeds of yore;
Shew the dark mail that Edward
The falchion shew, whose thundering stroke
Cressy's pale ranks impetuous broke;
From whose fell glare unnerv'd with dread
Gallia's aspiring chieftains fled,
Or from its edge, with nobler aim,
Gather'd the meed of death and fame.
O FANCY! give me to pervade Chambers in pictur'd pomp array'd, Peopling whose stately walls I view The godlike forms that Raffaelle drew, Enraptur'd see his magic hand
Wield the creative pencil-wand,
* Edward, styled the Black Prince, from the sable armour which he wore, son of Edward the Third.
Whose touches animation give,
And bid th' insensate canvass live,
Glowing with many a deed divine
Achiev'd in holy Palestine.
The Passions feel its potent charm,
And round the mighty Master swarm:
Lo! where Dismay with haggard-gaze
The death-smote Hypocrite surveys;
Beholds his eyes convulsive roll,
And Fate arrest his sordid soul!
Lo! motionless Attention stands, t
Where to the firmament his hands
Sublime the great Instructor rears!
While Athens rapt in wonder hears
Truth's energetic voice proclaim
Her unknown God's tremendous name!
Deep read in Superstition's lore,
Behold capricious Zeal adore,
* Cartoon.-The Death of Ananias, in the Royal apart ments at Windsor Castle.
+ Cartoon.-Paul preaching at Athens.
Cartoon.-Paul and Barnabas at Lystra.
In sublunary weeds array'd,
The fabled Gods her fears have made!
"Those pow'rful sounds," she cries, "I know: "Hark! from the honied lips they flow "Of Maia's Son !-Can Man dispense 66 Activity to impotence?
"Can energy of mortal hand
"The shrunk, distorted limb expand ?
σε Inveterate force of ills confound,
"And bid the lame with transport bound?-
" "Tis Jove's, the unexampled deed!
"To Jove th' Isaurian Steer shall bleed!
"To Jove the rich libations pour!
"Braid in bright wreaths each blooming flow'r,
"Swell each loud strain of festive mirth,
"To gratulate the Gods on earth!"
Artist supreme! by Nature taught To clothe with life each glowing thought, the destinies conspire
To quench thy pencil's hallow'd fire;
Too soon the soul that warm'd thy clay
Aspir'd to realms of endless day
Raffaelle died in 1520, at the age of 37 years.
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