POETRY. 41S 



To northern realms, whose happier skies detain 

 The lingering car of day, and check his golden rein. 



III. 



Chide not his stay ; — the roseate spring 



Not always flies on Halcyon wing ; 



Not always strains of joy and love 



Steal sweetly through the trembhng grove- 

 Reflecting Sol's refulgent beams. 



The falchion oft terrific gleams ; 

 And, louder than the wint'ry tempest's roar. 

 The battle's thunder shakes th' affrighted shore — 



Chide not his stay — for, in the scenes, 

 Where nature boasts her genial piide. 



Where forests spread their leafy skreens, 



And lucid streams the painted vales divide ; 



Beneath Europa's mildest clime. 



In glowing Summer's verdant prime. 



The frantic sons of Rapine tear 



The golden wreath from Ceres' hair. 



And trembling Industry, afraid 



To turn the war-devoted glade, 



Exposes wild to Famine's haggard eyes 



Wastes where no hopes of future harvests rise, 

 While floating corses choke th' unpurpled flood, 

 And ev'ry dewy sod is stain'd with civic blood. 



Vanish the horrid scene, and turn the eyes 



To where Britannia's chalky cliffs arise.-— 



What though beneath her rougher her air 



A less luxuriant soil we share ; 



Though often o'er her brightest day 



Sails the thick storm, and shrouds the solar ray, 



No purple vintage though she boast, 



No olive shade her ruder coast ; 



Yet here immortal Freedom reigns. 



And law protects what labour gains ; 



And as her manly sons behold 



The cultur'd farm, the teeming fold, 



See Commerce spread to ev'ry gale, 



From every shore, her swelling sail ; 



Jocund, they raise the choral lay 



To celebrate th' auspicious day, 

 By heaven selected from the laugliing year. 

 Sacred to patriot worth, to patriot bosoms dear. 



Gaffer 



