976 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 

 RHAPSODY THE SECJOND. 



THE EVEMNGj 



At the Source (TOrleans, 1775.* 



viie yox.li toixutr, 



NOW lowers the murky evening o'er thegro^fc>^ 

 A ilight of horrors dark'ning in her traiu : 

 Throi'gh naturt'.'s wilds the magic otl'spring rore, 

 Breath from each tree, — and glimmers in the plain. 



Each sound, — each varying object, doth but seem, 

 'Tis nature's spirit hovers in the gloom ; 

 Plays on each sense, and heightens cv'ry dream, 

 That wildly wandering fancy may assume 1 



Th' attendant genius of departed friends : 

 Swims on the eye, and murmurs on the ear. 

 To its own hcav'n thcenraptur'd soui ascends, 



* While sweet affections shut the gate on fear I' 



In such an hour a youth to fame unknown, 

 (Nor envied he the man, whom fame hath blest,) 

 Here oft would corae, to stroll and muse alone, 

 Here feed on nature's stores a foreign guest. 



Here would his eye with wandering rapture stray, 

 Where Loire and Loirct wanton thro' the mead ; 

 Now seek, now fly, yet on in amorous play, 

 Glide coyly to the selfsame fragrant bed ! 



Hence would he mark the sun's departing ray, 



Clothing proud Orlearis in a brighter shene ; 



And — then, he'd think, — ' thus ends the good man's day, 



• Thus virtue gilds cv'n life's last awful scene ?' 



For oft was he a slave to fancy's reign ; 



Oft would he rove in meditative mood, 



Course the round earth, and seas, and heaven's domain, 



And look through nature's wonders to their God. 



Or trace the flight of Virtue to her skies, 

 Thro' each gradation in the mind of man : 

 From others follies, study to be wise ; 

 From others failings learn his own to scan. 



• The seat of Lord Bolingbroke, during his exile. 



Qi 



