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The Poetical Works of William Collins/To Evening

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To a Lady, on the Death of Colonel Ross, written in May, 1745
The Poetical Works of William Collins
by William Collins
To Evening
To Peace
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135096The Poetical Works of William Collins — To EveningWilliam Collins (1721-1759)
​

ODE TO EVENING.

If aught of oaten stop, or pastoral song,May hope, chaste Eve, to soothe thy modest ear,[1]Like thy own brawling springs,[2]Thy springs, and dying gales; 4
O nymph reserved, while now the bright-hair'd sunSits in yon western tent, whose cloudy skirts,With brede ethereal wove,O'erhang his wavy bed:
Now air is hush'd, save where the weak-eyed bat[3]With short shrill shriek flits by on leathern wing; 10Or where the beetle windsHis small but sullen horn,
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⟨As⟩ oft he rises 'midst the twilight path,⟨Against⟩ the pilgrim borne in heedless hum:Now teach me, maid composed, 15To breathe some soften'd strain,
⟨Whose⟩ numbers, stealing through thy darkening vale,⟨May⟩ not unseemly with its stillness suit;As, musing slow, I hailThy genial loved return! 20
⟨For⟩ when thy folding-star arising shows⟨His⟩ paly circlet, at his warning lampThe fragrant Hours, and ElvesWho slept in buds the day,[4]
⟨And⟩ many a Nymph who wreathes her brows with sedge, 25⟨And⟩ sheds the freshening dew, and, lovelier still,The pensive Pleasures sweet,Prepare thy shadowy car.
⟨Then⟩ let me rove some wild and heathy scene;[5]Or find some ruin, 'midst its dreary dells, 30 ​Whose walls more awful nod[6]By thy religious gleams.
Or, if chill blustering winds, or driving rain,[7]Prevent my willing feet, be mine the hut,That from the mountain's side, 35Views wilds, and swelling floods,
And hamlets brown, and dim-discover'd spires;And hears their simple bell, and marks o'er allThy dewy fingers drawThe gradual dusky veil. 40
While Spring shall pour his showers, as oft he wont,And bathe thy breathing tresses, meekest Eve!While Summer loves to sportBeneath thy lingering light;
While sallow Autumn fills thy lap with leaves; 45Or Winter, yelling through the troublous air,Affrights thy shrinking train,And rudely rends thy robes;
​So long, regardful of thy quiet rule,[8] 49Shall Fancy, Friendship, Science, smiling Peace,Thy gentlest influence own,And love thy favourite name!

Variations.

  1. ↑ Ver. 2. May hope, O pensive Eve, to soothe thine ear.
  2. ↑ Ver. 3. Like thy own solemn springs,
  3. ↑ Ver. 9. While air is hush'd, save where the weak-eyed bat:
  4. ↑ Ver. 24. Who slept in flowers the day,
  5. ↑ Ver. 29. Then lead, calm votress, where some sheety lake
    Cheers the lone heath, or some time-hallow'd pile,
  6. ↑ Ver. 31.Or upland fallows grey,
    Reflect its last cool gleam.
  7. ↑ Ver. 33. But when chill blustering winds, or driving rain,
    Forbid my willing feet, be mine the hut,
  8. ↑ Ver. 49. So long, sure-found beneath the sylvan shed,
    Shall Fancy, Friendship,Science, rose-lipp'd Health,
    Thy gentlest influence own,
    And hymn thy favourite name!
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