Classic Poem

ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY.

From me Edina, to the brave and fair,
Health, joy, and love, and banishment of care.
Forasmuch as bare fields and gurly skies
Make rural scenes ungrateful to the eyes,
When hyperborean blasts confound the plain,
Driving by turns light snow and heavy rain;
Ye swains and nymphs, forsake the wither'd grove,
That no damp colds may nip the buds of love;
Since winds and tempests o'er the mountains ride,
Haste here where choice of pleasures do reside;
Come to my tow'rs and leave th' unpleasant scene,
My cheerful bosom shall your warmth sustain.

Screen'd in my walls you may bleak winter shun,
And for a while forget the distant sun;
My blazing fires, bright lamps, and sparkling wine,
As summer's sun shall warm, like him shall shine.

My witty clubs of minds that move at large,
With ev'ry glass can some great thought discharge:
When from my senate, and the toils of law,
T' unbend the mind from bus'ness, you withdraw
With such gay friends to laugh some hours away,
My winter ev'n shall ding the summer's day.

My schools of law produce a manly train
Of fluent orators, who right maintain:
Practis'd t' express themselves a graceful way,
An eloquence shines forth in all they say.

Some Raphael, Rubens, or Vandyke admire,
Whose bosoms glow with such a godlike fire:
Of my own race I have, who shall ere long,
Challenge a place amongst th' immortal throng.

Others in smoothest numbers are profuse,
And can in Mantuan dactyls lead the muse:
And others can with music make you gay,
With sweetest sounds Corelli's art display,
While they around in softest measures sing,
Or beat melodious solos from the string.

What pleasure can exceed to know what's great,
The hinge of war, and winding draughts of state?
These and a thousand things th' aspiring youth
May learn with pleasure from the sage's mouth;
While they full-fraughted judgments do unload,
Relating to affairs home and abroad.
The gen'rous soul is fir'd with noble flame
To emulate victorious Eugene's fame,
Who with fresh glories decks th' Imperial throne,
Making the haughty Ott'man empire groan:
He'll learn when warlike Sweden and the Czar,
The Danes and Prussians, shall demit the war;
T' observe what mighty turns of fate may spring
From this new war rais'd by Iberia's king.

Long ere the morn from eastern seas arise
To sweep night-shades from off the vaulted skies,
Oft love or law in dreams your mind may toss,
And push the sluggish senses to their posts;
The hautboy's distant notes shall then oppose
Your phantom cares, and lull you to repose.

To visit and take tea, the well-dress'd fair
May pass the crowd unruffled in her chair;
No dust or mire her shining foot shall stain,
Or on the horizontal hoop give pain.
For beaux and belles no city can compare,
Nor shew a gallaxy so made, so fair:
The ears are charm'd, and ravish'd are the eyes,
When at the concert my fair stars arise.
What poets of fictitious beauties sing,
Shall in bright order fill the dazzling ring:
From Venus, Pallas, and the spouse of Jove,
They 'd gain the prize, judg'd by the god of love;
Their sun-burnt features would look dull and fade,
Compar'd with my sweet white and blushing red.
The character of beauties so divine
The muse for want of words cannot define.
The panting soul beholds, with awful love,
Impress'd on clay th' angelic forms above,
Whose softest smiles can pow'rfully impart
Raptures sublime in dumb-show to the heart.

The strength of all these charms if ye defy,
My court of justice shall make you comply.
Welcome, my session, thou my bosom warms,
Thrice three times welcome to thy mother's arms;
Thy father long (rude man!) has left my bed,
Thou 'rt now my guard, and support of my trade;
My heart yearns after thee with strong desire,
Thou dearest image of thy ancient sire:
Should proud Augusta take thee from me too,
So great a loss would make Edina bow;
I 'd sink beneath a weight I could not bear,
And in a heap of rubbish disappear.

Vain are such fears: — I 'll rear my head in state,
My boding heart foretells a glorious fate:
New stately structures on new streets shall rise,
And new-built churches tow'ring to the skies.
From utmost Thule to the Dover-rock,
Britain's best blood in crowds to me shall flock;
A num'rous fleet shall be my Fortha's pride,
While they in her calm roads at anchor ride;
These from each coast shall bring what's great and rare,
To animate the brave, and please the fair.