To Spring

Fairest and loveliest of the sun-born train     That o'er the varying year alternate reign;     Whose eye, soft-beaming with thy father's fire,     Fond Nature woos with ever-fresh desire,     Enchanting Spring! O let thy votary's lay     Invite thy angel smile, thy genial sway!     Still do thy beauties, to my partial heart,     Whene'er I gaze, superior joys impart:     When winter's cloudy veil thou draw'st away                            }     And, vested with the sun's mild, dewy ray,                             }     First to the longing earth thy charms thou dost display; }     Or when Aurora, to the lark's gay song,     Full of thy spirit, lightly trips along;     With joyful kisses greets the first-born flowers,     And o'er them breathes thy warm, refreshing showers;     Or when, on shadowy pillow in the west,     Fann'd by thy gentlest Zephyrs into rest,     Eve sweetly dozes, whilst, as in a dream,     She sees the glimmerings of the solar beam     O'er the dim landscape languishingly stray,     On ocean's smiling face reflected play,     Fade in the purple ether's darkening hues,     And vernal peace and joy o'er earth diffuse.     More grateful strains, O Spring! thy favours claim,     Shine on thy beauties, and endear thy name.     While Winter's winds thy new-born charms deface,     And the young Year starves in his cold embrace,     The Hours, by stealth advancing, bear away,     And on thy lap, with smiles of pleasure, lay     The shivering Babe; new vigour there he gains,     And spreads thy various treasures o'er the plains.     The joyous Naiades, from their icy bands     Unfetter'd, dance and warble o'er the lands;     The Dryads feel thy genial breath, and raise     Their heads, new-crown'd with leaves, and whisper praise;     The plumy warblers wake their amorous strains;     The herds and flocks sport o'er the fresh, green plains;     Fancy and Hope return the mind to bless,     A paradise she sees and dreams of happiness.     Come, then, indulgent Ruler of the year,     Sweet Spring! to grateful Nature ever dear!     From the blest regions of Elysian day,     Climes favour'd high with thy perennial sway,     O deign to come! and let our raptured eyes     View thee, as through a veil, in these obscurer skies.     Methinks, I see thee coming from afar,     Thy beauty decks Apollo's mounting car;     The tyrant of the north with dazzled sight     Beholds, and, yielding, meditates his flight;     His dread, petrific rod he long has broke,     And freed glad Nature from his icy yoke;     She lifts her head, and hails the approaching hour     When she shall feel thy more propitious power.     O haste thy progress, and exert thy sway!     In all thy charms, on some thrice-hallow'd day,     When the soft-whispering air to Fancy's ears     Wafts the celestial music of the spheres,     While Pleasures, Loves, and Graces round thee fly,     Glide on a sun-beam down the clear, blue sky;     Crown'd with a myrtle-wreath, begin thy reign;     Bid lingering Winter fly with all his train;     Pour forth thy favours o'er this western isle,     And let each grateful eye reflect thy smile.