Page:The Pleasures of Imagination - Akenside (1744).djvu/109

Amid the mighty uproar, while below
The nations tremble, Shakespear looks abroad555
From some high cliff, superior, and enjoys
The elemental war. But Waller longs,^[1]
All on the margin of some flow'ry stream
To spread his careless limbs amid the cool560
Of plantane shades, and to the list'ning deer
The tale of slighted vows and love's disdain
Resound soft-warbling all the live-long day:
Consenting Zephyr sighs; the weeping rill
Joins in his plaint, melodious; mute the groves;565
And hill and dale with all their echoes mourn.
Such and so various are the tastes of men.

Oh! blest of heav'n, whom not the languid songs
Of luxury, the Siren! not the bribes
Of sordid wealth, nor all the gaudy spoils570
Of pageant honour can seduce to leave
Those ever blooming sweets, which from the store
Of nature fair imagination culls
To charm th' inliven'd soul! What tho' not all

1. Waller longs, &c.]
   O! how I long my careless limbs to lay
   Under the plantane shade; and all the day
   With am'rous airs my fancy entertain, &c.
   Waller, Battle of the Summer-Islands. Canto I,
   And again,
   While in the park I sing, the list'ning deer
   Attend my passion, and forget to fear, &c.
   At Pens-hurst.

Of