Classic Poem

The early-blooming almond, feathery pine,
Fair opulus, to spring, to autumn dear,
And the sweet shades of varying verdure, caught
From soft Acacia's gently waving branch,
Heedless he wanders: while the grateful scents
Of sweet-bryar, roses, honeysuckles wild,
Regale the smell; and to th' enchanted eye
Mezereon's purple, laurustinus white,
And pale laburnum's pendent flowers display
Their different beauties. O'er the smooth-shorn grass
His lingering footsteps leisurely proceed,
In meditation deep: — When, hark! the sound
Of distant water struck; upon his ear;
And sudden opens to his pausing eye
The rapid rough cascade, from the rude rock
Down dashing in a stream of lucid foam:
Then glides away, meand'ring o'er the lawn,
A liquid surface; shining seen afar,
At intervals, beneath the shadowy trees;
Till lost and bury'd in the distant grove.
Wrapt into sacred musing, he reclines
Beneath the covert of embowering shades;
And, painting to his mind the building scenes
Of pride and bold ambition, pities kings.
Genius of gardens! nature's fairest child!
Thou who, inspir'd by the directing mind
Of Heaven, did'st plan the scenes of Paradise!
Thou at whose bidding rose th' Hesperian bowers
Of ancient fame, the fair Aonian mount,
Castalian springs, and all th' enchanting groves
Of Tempe's vale: O where hast thou been hid?
For ages where have stray'd thy steps unknown?
Welcome at length, thrice welcome to the shore
Of Britain's beauteous isle; where verdant plains,
Where hills and dales, and woods and waters join,
To aid thy pencil, favour thy designs,
And give thy varying landscapes every charm.
Drive then Batavia's monsters from our shades;
Nor let unhallow'd shears profane the form,
Which Heaven's own hand, with symmetry divine,
Hath given to all the vegetable tribes.
Banish the regular deformity
Of plans by line and compass, rules abhorr'd
In nature's free plantations; and restore
Its pleasing wildness to the garden walk;
The calm serene recess of thoughtful man,
In meditation's silent sacred hour.
And lo! thy progress of the steps appears
In fair improvements scatter'd round the land,
Earliest in Chiswick's beauteous model seen:
There thy first favourite, in the happy shade
To nature introduc'd, the goddess woo'd,
And in sweet rapture there enjoy'd her charms.
In Richmond's venerable woods and wilds,
The calm retreat, where weary'd majesty,
Unbending from his cares for Britain's peace,
Steals a few moments to indulge his own,
On Oatland's brow, where grandeur fits enthron'd,
Smiling on beauty. In the lovely vale
Of Esher, where the mole glides lingering, loth
To leave such scenes of sweet simplicity.
In Woburn's ornamented fields, where gay
Variety, where mingled lights and shade,
Where lawns and groves, and opening prospects break,
With sweet surprise, upon the wand'ring eye,
On Hagley's hills, irregular and wild,
Where through romantic scenes of hanging woods,
And vallies green, and rocks, and hollow dales,
While echo talks, and nymphs and dryads play,
Thou rov'st enamour'd; leading by the hand
Its master, who inspir'd with all thy art,
Adds beauties to what nature plann'd so fair.
Hail sweet retirement! Wisdom's peaceful seat!
Where lifted from the crowd, and calmly plac'd
Beyond the deafening roar of human strife,
Th' Athenian sage his happy followers taught,
That pleasure sprang from virtue. Gracious Heaven!
How worthy thy divine beneficence,
This fair establish'd truth! ye blissful bowers,
Ye vocal groves, whose echoes caught his lore,
O might I hear, through time's long tract convey'd,
The moral lessons taught beneath your shades!
And lo, transported to the sacred scenes,
Such the divine enchantment of the muse,
I see the sage: I hear, I hear his voice.
" The end of life is happiness; the means
" That end to gain, fair virtue gives alone.
" From the vain phantoms or delusive fear,
" Or strong desire's intemp'rance, spring the woes
" Which human life embitter. Oh, my sons,
" From error's darkening clouds, from groundless fear
" Enfeebling all her powers, with early skill,
" Clear the bewilder'd mind. Let fortitude
" Establish in your breasts her stedfast throne;
" So shall the stings of evil fix no wound:
" Nor dread of poverty, nor pain, nor grief,
" Nor life's disasters, nor the fear of death,
" Shake the just purpose of your steady souls.
" The golden curb of temp'rance next prepare,
" To rein th' impetuous sallies of desire.
" He who the kindling sparks of anger checks,
" Shall ne'er with fruitless tears in vain lament
" Its flame's destructive rage. Who from the vale
" Ambition's dangerous pinnacle surveys;
" Safe from the blast which shakes the towering pile,
" Enjoys secure repose, nor dreads the storm
" When public clamours rise. Who cautious turn.
" From lewd temptation smiling in the eye
" Of wantonness hath burst the golden bands
" Of future anguish; hath redeem'd his frame
" From early feebleness, and dire disease.
" Who let the griping hand of av'rice pinch
" To narrow selfishness the social heart:
" Excludes fair friendship, charity, and love,
" From their divine exertions in his breast.
" And see, my friends, this garden's little bound,
" So small the wants of nature, well supplies
" Our board with plenty; roots, or wholesome pulse,
" Or herbs, or flavour'd fruits; and from the stream
" The hand of moderation fills a cup,
" To thirst delicious. Hence nor fevers rise,
" Nor surfeits, nor the boiling blood, inflam'd
" With turbid violence, the veins distends.
" Hear then, and weigh the moment of my words,
" Who thus the sensual appetites restrain,
" Enjoy the heavenly Venus of these shades,
" Celestial pleasure; tranquil and secure,
" From pain, disease, and anxious troubles free.