45
Far from the din of towns and cant of schools,
He dwells with Nature and he laughs at rules.
He asks no sage's lamp, but her bright beam,
To warm his genius and illume his theme,
He dwells with Nature and he laughs at rules.
He asks no sage's lamp, but her bright beam,
To warm his genius and illume his theme,
And when the Muse's frenzy rolls his eye,
Above, below, around, in earth and sky;
When Nature, true to Fancy's strong controul,
Spreads all her stores before his raptur'd soul,
'Mid the dark horror of the mountain storm,
The tossing flood, the cliff's gigantic form;
Or, if serener visions sooth his breast,
Vales and green woods in all their glories drest,
Love's tender vow and Beauty's soft disdain,
Seclusion's rest and Friendship's parting pain;
Amid this rich profusion, which the theme,
Cull'd from the rest, inspires his wondrous dream?
Above, below, around, in earth and sky;
When Nature, true to Fancy's strong controul,
Spreads all her stores before his raptur'd soul,
'Mid the dark horror of the mountain storm,
The tossing flood, the cliff's gigantic form;
Or, if serener visions sooth his breast,
Vales and green woods in all their glories drest,
Love's tender vow and Beauty's soft disdain,
Seclusion's rest and Friendship's parting pain;
Amid this rich profusion, which the theme,
Cull'd from the rest, inspires his wondrous dream?
