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178 

2. The mildness of Summer and Spring;
And Autumn's rich foliage are gone;
The birds have forgotten to sing,
The flocks have deserted the lawn.

3. Far, far, from the place of my birth,
The plain where my morning was past,
That beautiful section of earth,
Where fortune my residence cast.

4. From friends, and from home far away,
With the half of myself left behind,
My heart beats in time while I say,
The season accords with my mind.

5.By fashion, or folly, or fame,
Or some other phantom assail'd, 
Perhaps in pursuit of a name,
Though thousands far better have fail'd;

6. I laid by my team, and my plough, 
Forsook the sweet cottage of love,
And came, before great men to bow,
A clod-hopper statesman to prove.

7. Surrounded by men of all kinds,
All colours the earth can produce,
With all sorts of bodies and minds,
And fitted for all sorts of use.

8. Compell'd in some squabbles to share,
To bustle along with the rest,
My thoughts are all ruffled with care,
And heaviness presses my breast.

9. I sigh for that silent repose,
Which home, and home only, provides;
Those scenes unincumber'd with woes,
Where soothing contentment presides;

10. Where peace builds her nest with delight,
Domestic endearments appear,
Where hearts can in rapture unite,
And happiness winds off the year.

179
11. Alas! am I here to remain,
And count the dull minutes away,
'Till winter shall wear out his reign,
And nature begin to look gay;

12.'Till the foliage shall cover the trees,
The blue bird be seen on the wing;
'Till fragrance shall float on the breeze,
And perhaps 'till the whip-poor-will sing?

13. Then hasten your tardy career,
Ye moments; forget your delay !
Let Spring in her verdure appear,
Bring forward the beauties of May.

14. Let me catch the first note of the grove,
Take the earliest zephyr that blows,
To fly to the bosom of love,
And rest in extatic repose.

THE FIRST PSALM.
1. THE man in life, wherever placed,
Hath happiness in store,
Who walks not in the wicked's way,
Nor learns their guilty lore.

2. Nor from the seat of scornful pride,
Casts forth his eyes abroad,
But with humility and awe,
Still walks before his God.

3. That man shall flourish like the trees,
Which by the streamlets grow;
The fruitful top is spread on high,
And firm the roots below.

4. But he whose blossom buds in guilt,
Shall to the ground be cast,
And like the rootless stubble tost,
Before the sweeping blast.

5. For why? that God the good adore,
Hath given them peace and rest,
But hath decreed that wicked men
Shall ne'er be truly blest. B.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-20 07:54:33 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-20 09:47:02