POEMS. 467 



In listed colours glows, th' unconscious swain 

 With vacant eye gazes on the divine 

 Phenomenon, gleaming o'er the illumined fields, 

 Or runs to catch the treasures which it sheds. 



Not so the sage, inspired with pious awe ; 

 He hails the federal arch ;* and looking up, 

 Adores that God, whose fingers formed this bow 

 Magnificent, compassing heaven about, 

 With a resplendent verge, " Thou madest the cloud, 

 Maker omnipotent, and thou the bow ; 

 And by that covenant graciously hast sworn 

 Never to drown the world again :f henceforth, 

 Till time shall be no more, in ceaseless round, 

 Season shall follow season : day to night, 

 Summer to winter, harvest to seed time, 

 Heat shall to cold in regular array 

 Succeed." Heaven-taught, so sang the Hebrew bard.^ 



A HARVEST SCENE. 



WAKED by the gentle gleamings of the morn, 

 Soon glad, the reaper, provident of want, 

 Hies cheerful-hearted to the ripen' d field ; 

 Nor hastes alone ; attendant by his side 

 His faithful wife, sole partner of his cares, 

 Bears on her breast the sleeping babe ; behind, 

 With steps unequal, trips her infant train : 

 Thrice happy pair, in love and labour join'd ! 



All day they ply their task ; with mutual chat, 

 Beguiling each the sultry, tedious hours. 

 Around them falls in rows the sever'd corn, 

 Or the shocks rise in regular array. 



But when high noon invites to short repast, 

 Beneath the shade of sheltering thorn they sit, 



* Gen. ix. 12 17. t Gen. viii. 22. 



t Moses. 



