EARLY the sun his radiant axle guides,
Sloping his steep course with the Pleiades;
On every fragant briar the flowret blooms,
And the wild woodlark chaunts his early song
In heedless carol, to the smiling Hours,
Young Maia's festive train; their wavy dance
She jocund leads, and from her horn profuse
Pours roses, violets, woodbines, eglantine,
Fair Flora's dower, what time the youthful Spring
Clasp'd her all-blushing in a secret bower:
Thou the mild offspring of their warm embrace,
Oh lovely May, and these thine heritage,
Which bounteous thou with an unsparing hand
Scatterest to all, tho' chief thou lov'st to deck
The village Phaebe's brow, and fairer far
Is thy adorning, than the sunny glow
Of eastern ruby, ill assorted grace
That decks not but deforms the faded cheek
Of the wan courtier. — Far more raptur'd greets
Fancy's sond ear, where'er she musing roves,
Thy minstrelsy untutor'd, than the trill
And languid descant of Italian art.
Yet sings the woodlark, and the hawthorn blooms,
Unheard the song, the fragrance unperceiv'd
By me; tho' not among the sons of men
There lives, who listens with more raptur'd ear,
Or feels more lively, Nature's varied boon.
For tho' confined in the city walls
To dwell with busy Care, and with him watch
The call of Interest, is my lot affix'd,
Far happier seems to me the peasant's life,
Who treads the furrow labouring, yet his mind
Vacant of thought can muse of what around
Strikes his rapt eye with beauty, or his ear
With pleasing song, than if a golden mine
Disclos'd its boundless treasures, but condemn'd
My carking thought, to watch the gilded mischief,
And cunningly devise t' increase the store.