FIRST ODE 



TO 



SPRING. 





Otern Winter hence with all his train removes, 

 And cheerful skies and limpid streams are seen; 



Thick sprouting foliage decorates the groves, 

 Reviving herbage robes the fields with green. 



God of day* whose genial power 



Revives the buried seed, 

 That fills with foliage ev'ry bower, 



With verdure ev'ry mead, 



Bid all thy vernal breezes fly, 

 Diffusing mildness through the sky; 

 Give the soft season to our drooping plains, 

 Refreshed with rosy dew and salutary rains. 



Enough has Winters hand severe 



Chastis'd this dreary coast; 

 And chill'd the tender dawning year 



With desolating frost. 







Give but thy vital beams to play, 

 These ice-wrought scenes will melt away, 

 And mix'd in sprightly dance, the blooming powers 

 Will wake the drowsy Spring; the Spring the flowers. 

 In virtue then let's emulate the blest above, 

 And like the Spring display benevolence and love. 



Harrison. 



* Apollo. 



