Bell's Classical Arrangement of Fugitive Poetry (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1789 edition. Excerpt: ...the shocks, some load the spacious wains, Some lead to sheltering barns the fragrant corn, Some form tall ricks that tow'ring o'er the plains, For many a mile the rural yards adorn.--Th' inclosure gates thrown open all around, The stubble's peopled by the gleaning throng, The rattling car with verdant branches crown'd, And joyful swains that raise the clamorous song, Soon mark glad harvest o'er--Ye rural lords, Whose wide domains o'er Albion's isle extend; Think whose kind hand your annual wealth affords, And bid to heaven your grateful praise ascend. For though no gift spontaneous of the ground Rose these fair crops that made your vallies smile, Though the blithe youth of every hamlet round Pursued for these through many a day their toil; Yet what avail your labors or your cares? Can all your labors, all your cares, supply Bright suns, or softening showers, or tepid airs, Or one indulgent influence of the sky For Providence decrees that we obtain With toil each blessing destin'd to our use; But means to teach us that our toil is vain, If he the bounty of his hand refuse. Yet, Albion, blame not what thy crime demands, While this sad truth the blushing Muse betrays, More frequent echoes o'er thy harvest lands The voice of riot than the voice of praise. Prolific though thy fields, and mild thy clime, Know realms, once fam'd for fields and climes as fair, Have fell the prey of famine, war, and time, And now no semblance of their glory bear. Ask Palestine, proud Asia's early boast, Where now the groves that pour'd her wine and oil, Where the fair towns that crown'd her wealthy coast, Where the glad swains that till'd her fertile soil i Ask, and behold, and mourn her hapless fall Where rose fair towns, where wav'd her golden grain, Thron'd on...