I79I' 



ODE TO THE LARK. 29 



« (Can theM'JSES then infpire, 

 " Comes exprtfTion from the L' re, 

 " That may full defcriptiou prove, 

 " Of my Thia's heat and love ? 

 " Ah ! too weak 's the welcome aid, 

 " To fing the beauties of the maid ! 



" Love's the rudocr of my lays, 

 « Love alone ihall fiiig her praife, 

 " Love that captivates the brave, 

 " And turns the tyrant to a fla=ve ! 



«' Let the critic kn't his brow, 

 « I^et him call my verfe bur low, 

 " Let him cenfure, what care I ; 

 " All his threat'nings I defy. 



" From the maid in beauty's bloom, 

 " 'Tis from her I wait my doom, 

 " 'Tis from her alone I love ; 

 •' She can praife or diiapprove.)" 



Learn to murmur like the dove. 

 Bear the love-tale to my love ; 

 Hear me vow, and hear me figh ; 

 Tell her, " fick of love 1 die." 



Go, the lovely virgin greet. 

 Waft my off'ring to hct feet. 

 Warbler, thou love's Iweets haft prov'd, 

 Ever loving, and belov'd ! 



" (Search the writings of the Sage, 

 " Search the fair hiftoric page; 

 " All the wond'rous tales unfold, 

 *' Of the love-fick fwains of old, 

 " Painted in the Poet's line, 

 " Still the love won't equal mine ! 



" To Fancy then the pencil give, 



" Let her bid the canva? live, 



" Let the youthful image rife, 



" Lovely to the ravifli'd eyes ; 



" 'I he love-fick fwain then k.t her paint, 



" Still defcription is too faint : 



" In vain fhe'U paint, in vain dcfign ; 



" Still the love won't equal mine.)" 



Fancy feels the talk too hard ; 

 "Vl^eak 's the fancy of the Bard, 



