126 FLOllA DOMESTIC A. 



" If to a rock from rains he fly. 

 Or some bright day of April sky. 

 Imprisoned by hot sunshine lie 



Near the green holly. 

 And wearily at length should fare ; 

 He need but look about, and there 

 Thou art ! — a friend at hand, to scare 



His melancholy. 



" A hundred times, by rock or bower. 

 Ere thus I have lain couched an hour. 

 Have I derived from thy sweet power 



Some apprehension ; 

 Some steady love ; some brief delight ; 

 Some memory that had taken flight; 

 Some chime of fancy, wrong or right ; 



Or stray invention. 



*' If stately passions in me burn. 

 And one chance look to thee should turn, 

 I drink out of an humbler urn 



A lowlier pleasure ; 

 The homely sympathy that heeds 

 The common life, our nature breeds ; 

 A wisdom fitted to the needs 



Of hearts at leisure. 



" When, smitten by the morning ray, 

 I see thee rise alert and gay. 

 Then, cheerful flower ! my spirits play 



With kindred gladness : 

 And when, at dusk, by dews opprest 

 Thou sink'st, the image of thy rest 

 Hath often eased my pensive breast 



Of careful sadness. 



" And all day long I number yet. 

 All seasons through, another debt. 

 Which I, wherever thou art met. 



To thee am owing; 

 An instinct call it, a blind sense ; 

 A happy genial influence. 

 Coming one knows not how nor whence, 



Nor whither going. 



