Classic Poem

ODE XII

1

Contented I, to frame a rurall ode,
In humble Shades;
Admire those Swains, who in bright Southerne Glades,
Doe make abode;
And Carol high to Fame, with mounting Quill;
My obscure Groves, best suit my humble Skill.

2

Let me, unto the fameles Deviaes Shore,
Low Accents frame,
Unenvied in my Fate, or in my Fame;
And raise my Store
From noe mans Harvest, but a Stocke produce
From native bounties, to enrich my Muse;

3

And run, with changing Chords, as Fancie guides
To everie new
Object of Chance; which wee will more pursue,
The more it slides,
And gather a fresh Stocke, from all wee see,
Our numbers Charged, in varietie.

4

My Temples bound, not in a wreath of bay;
(For be it farre
From my free Thought soe high Attempt to dare)
But humble Hay,
May rest secure; and if I be content,
My Fate is better, Fame as Eminent.

5

There will I sing vast Nature, in her Store;
And sing the Power
Which gives to Nature all her wealth: the bower
Of All (and more)
Perfection; where all fullnes doth remaine,
Parent to Nature, who doth All sustaine.

6

Nature, made faire, in all her best Attire
Brings it from hence;
Her weakest Ray, her beames of Excellence,
Shoot, from one fire;
And not her lest production but doth Stand
A powerfull wittnes of his mightie Hand.

7

As Life, and Forme, did from his breath proceed;
In the same way
Comes Sence-depriveing Death, and Sharpe Decay;
Wee doe not tread,
But a fresh wonder rises, to display
Its beauties, Sparkes from the Eternall Ray.

8

A thousand Times, I contemplate his Store,
In earthlie Things;
I yet rise higher, and my Judgment brings
A Thousand more;
Yet treebled, and I looke upon the Sun
To gather new, and End where I begun.

9

There is noe Day soe Sad, noe night soe Dull,
But I can meet
Ten miriads of wonder; and forget
That I am full;
From nothing (be it scorned) but I can gather
A Praise, unto this universall Father;

10

Hee rules the ruleing Monarch's, of the Earth,
And Peasants poore;
The crawling Emmets, have from him their Store,
Lions their Birth;
The Royall Eagle flyes, but by his might;
And Hee secures the Sillie sparrowes flight.

11

The mightie Cedar, getts from him his Sap;
And Shrubs, their Juice;
The Rose and Lillie flourish, by his Deawes;
Nettles, by hap
Come not to seed, but by the Influence
Which He, to everie Creature, doth dispence.