22.07.2007, 18:50
Written on leaving a beloved residence
Romantic shades, by nature wildly drest!
Scenes to my pensive bosom ever dear!
Where I have pass’d full many a happy year,
In health, in peace, and calm contentment blest; -
For you have witness’d life’s sweet dawn arise,
You have beheld gay childhood’s smiling hours,
And first among your silent shadowy bow’rs
I learn’d retirement’s tasteful joys to prize.
Dear hills! the sun will gild your turf – the air
Will catch your thymy perfume on its wing –
And sweet as ever still your birds will sing:
But not for me; - I go to cities – where,
With sickening eye false splendour I shall view,
And sigh in vain, sweet shades, for happiness – and you!
Romantic shades, by nature wildly drest!
Scenes to my pensive bosom ever dear!
Where I have pass’d full many a happy year,
In health, in peace, and calm contentment blest; -
For you have witness’d life’s sweet dawn arise,
You have beheld gay childhood’s smiling hours,
And first among your silent shadowy bow’rs
I learn’d retirement’s tasteful joys to prize.
Dear hills! the sun will gild your turf – the air
Will catch your thymy perfume on its wing –
And sweet as ever still your birds will sing:
But not for me; - I go to cities – where,
With sickening eye false splendour I shall view,
And sigh in vain, sweet shades, for happiness – and you!