The Poetical Works of William Collins/On the Death of Thomson

by William Collins (1721-1759)

For other versions of this work, see Ode on the Death of Mr. Thomson.

ODE ON THE DEATH OF THOMSON.

THE SCENE IS SUPPOSED TO LIE ON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND.

 

In yonder grave a Druid lies,Where slowly winds the stealing wave;The year's best sweets shall duteous riseTo deck its poet's sylvan grave.

In yon deep bed of whispering reeds 5His airy harp^{[N 1]} shall now be laid,That he, whose heart in sorrow bleeds,May love through life the soothing shade.

Then maids and youths shall linger here,And while its sounds at distance swell, 10Shall sadly seem in pity's earTo hear the woodland pilgrim's knell.

Remembrance oft shall haunt the shoreWhen Thames in summer wreaths is drest,And oft suspend the dashing oar, 15To bid his gentle spirit rest!

And oft, as ease and health retireTo breezy lawn, or forest deep,The friend shall view yon whitening^{[N 2]} spire,And 'mid the varied landscape weep. 20

But thou, who own'st that earthy bed,^{[V 1]}Ah! what will every dirge avail;Or tears, which love and pity shed,That mourn beneath the gliding sail?

Yet lives there one, whose heedless eye 25Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimmering near?With him, sweet bard, may fancy die,And joy desert the blooming year.

But thou, lorn stream, whose sullen tideNo sedge-crown'd sisters now attend, 30Now waft me from the green hill's side,Whose cold turf hides the buried friend!

And see, the fairy valleys fade;Dun night has veil'd the solemn view!Yet once again, dear parted shade, 35Meek Nature's Child, again adieu!

The genial meads,^{[N 3]} assign'd to blessThy life, shall mourn thy early doom.;Their hinds and shepherd-girls shall dress,With simple hands, thy rural tomb. 40

Long, long, thy stone and pointed clayShall melt the musing Briton's eyes:O! vales and wild woods, shall he say,In yonder grave your Druid lies!

Variations

1. Ver. 21. But thou who own'st that earthly bed.

Footnotes

1. The harp of Æolus, of which see a description in the Castle of Indolence.
2. Richmond Church, in which Thomson was buried.
3. Mr. Thomson resided in the neighbourhood of Richmond some time before his death.