Classic Poem

As wreaths of bending poppy crown her brow.
The other, rais'd on swan-like spreading plumes,
Glides gaily on: a milk-white robe invests
His frame transparent; in his azure eyes
Dwells brightness, while around his radiant head,
A shining glory paints his flying robe,
With all the colours of the wat'ry bow.
Proceeding now, in more majestic steps,
The varying seasons join the mystic train.
In all the blooming hues of florid youth,
Gay Spring advances smiling; on her head
A flow'ry chaplet, mix'd with verdant buds,
Sheds aromatic fragrance through the air;
While little zephyrs, breathing wanton gales,
Before her slutter, turning back to gaze,
With looks enamour'd, on her lovely face.
Summer succeeds, crown'd with the bearded ears
Of rip'ning harvest; in her hand she bears
A shining sickle; on her glowing cheek
The servent heat paints deep a rosy blush:
Her thin light garment waving with the wind,
Flows loosely from her bosom, and reveals
To the pleas'd eye the beauties of her form.
Then follows Autumn, bearing in her lap
The blushing fruits which Summer's sultry breath
Had mellow'd to her hand. A clust'ring wreath
Of purple grapes, half hid with spreading leaves,
Adorns her brow. Her dew besprinkled locks
Begin to fall, her bending shoulders sink,
And active vigour leaves her sober steps.
Winter creeps on, shrivell'd with chilling cold;
Bald his white crown, upon his silver beard
Shines the hoar frost, and isicles depend.
Rigid and stern his melancholy face;
Shivering he walks, his joint's benumb'd and stiff;
And wraps in northern furs his wither'd trunk.
And now great Nature pointing to the train
Her heaven-directed hand, they all combine,
In measur'd figures, and mysterious rounds,
To weave the mazy dance; while to the sound
Of Pan's immortal pipe, the goddess join'd
Her voice harmonious; and the listening muse,
Admiring, caught the wonders of her theme.
" To God, supreme Creator! great and good!
" All-wise, Almighty Parent of the world!
" In choral symphonies of praise and love,
" Let all the powers of nature raise the song! "
" The wat'ry signs forsaking, see, the sun,
" Great father of the vegetable tribes,
" Darts from the Ram his all-enlivening ray.
" When now the genial warmth earth's yielding breast
" Unfolds. Her latent salts, sulphureous oils,
" And air, and water mix'd; attract, repel,
" And raise prolific ferment. Lo! at length
" The vital principle begins to wake:
" Th' emulgent fibres, stretching round the root,
" Seek their terrestrial nurture; which convey'd
" In limpid currents through th' ascending tubes,
" And strain'd and filter'd in their secret cells;
" To its own nature every different plant
" Assimilating, changes. Awful heav'n!
" How wond'rous is thy work, to thee! to thee!
" Mysterious power belongs! summer's fierce heat
" Increasing rarifies the ductile juice.
" See, from the root, and from the bark imbib'd,
" Th' elastic air impels the rising sap,
" Swift through the stem, through every branching arm,
" And smaller shoot, the vivid moisture flows,
" Protruding from their buds the opening leaves;
" Whence, as ordain'd, th' expiring air flows out
" In copious exhalations; and from whence
" Its noblest principles the plant inhales.
" See! see! the shooting verdure spreads around!
" Ye sons of men, with rapture view the scene!
" On hill and dale, on meadow, field, and grove,
" Cloth'd in soft mingling shades from light to dark,
" The wandering eye delighted roves untir'd.
" The hawthorn's whitening bush, Pomona's blooms,
" And Flora's pencil o'er th' enamell'd green,
" The varying scenes enrich. Hence every gale
" Breathes odours, every zephyr from his wings
" Wasting new fragrance; borne from trees, from shrubs,
" Borne from the yellow cowslip, violet blue,
" From deep carnations, from the blushing rose,
" From every flower and aromatic herb
" In grateful mixtures. Hence ambrosial fruits
" Yield their delicious flavours. The sweet grape,
" The mulberry's cooling juice, the luscious plumb,
" The healthful apple, the dissolving peach,
" And thy rich nectar many-flavour'd pine.
" These are the gracious gifts, O favour'd man!
" These, these to thee the gracious gifts of heaven,
" A world of beauty, wonder, and delight."
" To God, supreme Creator! great and good!
" All-wise, Almighty Parent of the world!
" In choral symphonies of praise and love,
" Let all the powers of nature close the strain. "