LINES Written when sailing in a Boat At EVENING. How rich the wave, in front, împrest And see how dark the backward stream! A little moment past, so smiling! And still, perhaps, with faithless gleam, Some other loiterer beguiling. Such views the youthful bard allure, Though grief and pain may come to-morrow? LINES Written near Richmond upon the Thames. Glide gently, thus for ever glide, Thames! that other bards may see, As lovely visions by thy side. As now, fair river! come to me. Vain thought! yet be as now thou art, That in thy waters may be seen The image of a poet's heart, How bright, how solemn, how serene! Such as did once the poet bless, Remembrance! as we float along, For him suspend the dashing oar, pray that never child of Song And May know his freezing sorrows more. * Collins's Ode on the death of Thomson, the last written, I believe, of the poems which were published during his life-time. This Ode is also alluded to in the next stanza. |