Ode Occasion'd by the Death of Mr. Thomson

by William Collins

ODE

 

Occasion'd by the DEATH of

 

Mr. THOMSON.

 

By Mr. WILLIAM COLLINS.

 

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Hæc tibi semper erunt, & cum solennia VotaReddemus Nymphis, & cum lustrabimus Agros.

——— ——— Amavit nos quoque Daphnis.Virg. Bucol. Eclog. v.

 

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LONDON:

Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox, on Ludgate-Hill.
MDCCXLIX.

[ Price Six-pence. ]

ΤΟ

 

GEORGE LITTLETON, Esq;

 

THIS

 

ODE

 

IS INSCRIB'D BY

 

The AUTHOR.

ADVERTISEMENT.

The Scene of the following Stanzas is suppos'd to lie on the Thames near Richmond.

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ODE

ΟΝ ΤΗΕ

Death of Mr. THOMSON.

 

I.In yonder Grave a Druid liesWhere slowly winds the stealing Wave!The Year's best Sweets shall duteous riseTo deck it's Poet's sylvan Grave!

II.In yon deep Bed of whisp'ring ReedsHis airy Harp^[1] shall now be laid,That He, whose Heart in Sorrow bleedsMay love thro' Life the soothing Shade.

III.Then Maids and Youths shall linger here,And while it's Sounds at distance swell,Shall sadly seem in Pity's EarTo hear the Woodland Pilgrim's Knell.

IV.Remembrance oft shall haunt the ShoreWhen Thames in Summer-wreaths is drest,And oft suspend the dashing OarTo bid his gentle Spirit rest!

V.And oft as Ease and Health retireTo breezy Lawn, or Forest deep,The Friend shall view yon whit'ning Spire^[2],And 'mid the varied Landschape weep.

VI.But Thou, who own'st that Earthly Bed,Ah! what will ev'ry Dirge avail?Or Tears, which Love and Pity shedThat mourn beneath the gliding Sail!

VII.Yet lives there one, whose heedless EyeShall scorn thy pale Shrine glimm'ring near?With Him, Sweet Bard, may Fancy die,And Joy desert the blooming Year.

VIII.But thou, lorn Stream, whose sullen TideNo sedge-crown'd Sisters now attend,Now waft me from the green Hill's SideWhose cold Turf hides the buried Friend!

IX.And see, the Fairy Valleys fade,Dun Night has veil'd the solemn View!—Yet once again, Dear parted ShadeMeek Nature's Child again adieu!

X.The genial Meads assign'd to blessThy Life, shall mourn thy early Doom,Their Hinds, and Shepherd-Girls shall dressWith simple Hands thy rural Tomb.

XI.Long, long, thy Stone and pointed ClayShall melt the musing Briton's Eyes,O! Vales, and Wild Woods, shall He sayIn yonder Grave Your Druid lies!

 

FINIS.

1. The Harp of Æolus, of which see a Description in the Castle of Indolence.
2. Richmond-Church.