And there I trace, when the grey evening lours,

A filent chronicle of happier hours!

When Christmas revels in a world of snow,

And bids her berries blush, her carols flow;

His fpangling fhower when Froft the wizard flings; 160

Or, borne in ether blue, on viewless wings,

O'er the white pane his filvery foliage weaves,

And gems with icicles the sheltering eaves;
-Thy muffled friend his nectarine-wall pursues,
What time the fun the yellow crocus wooes, 164
Screen'd from the arrowy North; and duly hies

To meet the morning-rumour as it flies;

Fallacem circum, vefpertinumque pererro

Sæpe forum.

HOR.

To range the murmuring market-place, and view

The motley groups that faithful TENIERS drew.

When Spring bursts forth in blossoms thro' the vale, And her wild mufic triumphs on the gale,

Oft with my book I muse from stile to ftile;

Oft in my porch the listless noon beguile,

Framing loose numbers, till declining day

170

Thro' the green trellis fhoots a crimson ray; 174

Till the Weft-wind leads on the twilight hours,
And shakes the fragrant bells of closing flowers.

Nor boast, O Choify, feat of foft delight, 15 The fecret charm of thy voluptuous night.

* Tantôt, un livre en main, errant dans les préries—

BOILEAU.

Vain is the blaze of wealth, the pomp of power!

Lo, here, attendant on the fhadowy hour,

Thy closet-fupper, ferv'd by hands unseen,
Sheds, like an evening-ftar, its ray ferene, 16
To hail our coming. Not a ftep prophane

180

Dares, with rude found, the cheerful rite restrain ; And, while the frugal banquet glows reveal'd, 185 Pure and unbought *,-the natives of my field; While blushing fruits thro' scatter'd leaves invite, Still clad in bloom, and veil'd in azure light ;With wine, as rich in years as HORACE fings, With water, clear as his own fountain flings,

The fhifting fide-board plays its humbler part,

Beyond the triumphs of a Loriot's art.

*-dapes inemtas. HOR.

190

Thus, in this calm recefs, fo richly fraught

With mental light, and luxury of thought,

194

My life steals on; (O could it blend with thine!)
Careless my course, yet not without defign.

So thro' the vales of Loire the bee-hives glide, 17
The light raft dropping with the filent tide;
So, till the laughing scenes are loft in night,

The busy people wing their various flight, 200

Culling unnumber'd sweets from nameless flowers,

That scent the vineyard in its purple hours.

Rife, ere the watch-relieving clarions play, Caught thro' St. James's groves at blush of day; Ere its full voice the choral anthem flings

Thro' trophied tombs of heroes and of kings.

205

Hafte to the tranquil fhade of learned ease, *

Tho' skill'd alike to dazzle and to please ;

Tho' each gay scene be search'd with anxious eye,

Nor thy fhut door be pafs'd without a figh.

210

If, when this roof shall know thy friend no more,

Some, form'd like thee, fhould once, like thee,

explore;

Invoke the lares of his lov'd retreat,

And his lone walks imprint with pilgrim-feet;

Then be it faid, (as, vain of better days,

215

Some grey domeftic prompts the partial praise ;)

"Unknown he liv'd, unenvied, not unbleft;

Reason his guide, and Happiness his guest.

* Innocuas amo delicias doctamque quietem.