Page:The Seasons - Thomson (1791).djvu/144

Tliy hill, delightful ^[1]Shene? here let us sweep
The boundless landskip: now the raptur'd eye.
Exulting swift, to huge Augusta fend,1405
Now to the ^[2]Sister-Hills that skirt her plain,
To lofty Harrow now, and now to where
Majestic Windsor lifts his princely brow.
In lovely contrast to this glorious view,
Calmly magnificent, then will we turn1410
To where the silver Thames first rural grows.
There let the feasted eye unwearied stray:
Luxurious, there, rove thro' the pendant woods
That nodding hang o'er Harrington's retreat;
And, stooping thence to Ham's embowering walks,1415
Beneath whose shades, in spotless peace retir'd,
With Her the pleasing partner of his heart,
The worthy Queensb'ry yet laments his Gay,
And polish'd Cornbury wooes the willing Muse,
Slow let us trace the matchless Vale of Thames;1420
Fair-winding up to where the Muses haunt
In Twit'nam's bowers, and for their Pope implore
The healing God; ^[3]to royal Hampton's pile,
To Clermont's terrass'd height, and Esher's groves,
Where in the sweetest solitude, embrac'd1425
By the soft windings of the silent Mole,
From courts and senates Pelham finds repose.
Inchanting vale! beyond whate'er the Muse
Has of Achaia or Hesperia sung!
O vale of bliss! O softly-swelling hills!1430
On which the power of Cultivation lies,
And joys to see the wonders of his toil.

Heavens! what a goodly prospect spreads around,
Of hills, and dales, and woods, and lawns, and spires,

1. The old name of Richmond, signifying in Saxon Shining, or Splendor.
2. Highgate and Hamstead.
3. In his last sickness.

And