O DE

ON THE

DEATH OF MR. THOMSON,

BY MR. COLLINS.

THE SCENE OF THE FOLLOWING STANZAS IS SUPPOSED TO LIE ON THE

THAMES, NEAR

RICHMOND.

I.

N yonder grave a Druid lies

IN

Where flowly, winds the ftealing wave!
The year's beft fweets fhall duteous rife
To deck its Poet's fylvan grave!

II.

In yon deep bed of whifp'ring reeds
His airy harp * fhall now be laid,

That he, whofe heart in forrow bleeds,

May love thro' life the foothing fhade.

*The harp of EOLUS, of which fee a defcription in the CASTLE OF INDOLENCE.

III.

Then maids and youths fhall linger here,
And while its founds at diftance fwell,
Shall fadly feem in Pity's ear

To hear the Woodland Pilgrim's knell.
IV.

Remembrance oft fhall haunt the shore

When Thames in fummer wreaths is dreft,

And oft fufpend the dashing oar

To bid his gentle spirit reft!

V.

And oft as Eafe and Health retire
To breezy lawn, or foreft deep,

The friend shall view yon whitening * fpire,
And 'mid the varied landscape weep.

VI.

But Thou, who own'ft that earthy bed,
Ah! what will every dirge avail ?

Or tears, which Love and Pity fhed
That mourn beneath the gliding fail!
VII.

Yet lives there one, whofe heedlefs eye

Shall scorn thy pale shrine glimm'ring near? With him, fweet bard, may Fancy die,

And Joy defert the blooming year.

RICHMOND Church.

VIII.

But thou, lorn ftream, whose sullen tide
No fedge-crown'd Sifters now attend,
Now waft me from the green hill's fide
Whofe cold turf hides the buried friend!
IX.

And fee, the fairy valleys fade,

Dun Night has veil'd the folemn view! Yet once again, dear parted fhade, Meek Nature's Child, again adieu!

X.

The genial meads affign'd to bless

The life, fhall mourn thy early doom,
Their hinds, and fhepherd-girls fhall drefs
With fimple hands thy rural tomb.
XI.

Long, long, thy ftone, and pointed clay
Shall melt the musing Briton's eyes,
O! vales, and wild woods, fhall He fay
In yonder grave Your Druid lies!

THE CHILD BIRTH.

IN THE MANNER OF GAY.

HE doleful dumps I fing, and tearful woes, Of MARIAN teeming with unlawful throes: The fheeneft lafs in Berkshire was fhe known, Of all that butter fell to Reading town: Not the feven fifters could o'er her prevail, The golden farmer's daughters of the vale, Tho' every Oxford mufe their charms has fung And graveft doctors * join'd the tuneful throng.

Ye peers! who careless of ambition, chufe
To court the labours of the paft'ral muse;
And all the wond'rous bards who try the lay
Where black Cam rolls, or Ifis' eddies play,
Affift the labours of an humble fwain,
Rude to the pipe, and novice on the plain.

Nine months fucceffive now had rolled round, Since MARIAN firft the pleasing mischief found; In vain her hands had cull'd th' abortive weed, Nor aught avail'd the 'pothecary's aid.

The Rev. Dr. WILKES wrote a poem upon them.

Her womb began with fatal fize to swell,
And fick'ning qualms the blufhful fecret tell :
Then all in fad despair fhe made her moan,
Lodona's waters echoed groan for groan.

"Ah! faithlefs COLIN CLOUT! ah, luckless I!
"And canft thou, cruel! from thy MARIAN fly?
"How often haft thou fuck'd my panting breath?
"How often fwore to love me true till death?
"But to the Juftice I'll reveal my plight,
"And with a conflable pursue thy flight.
"Ah! how unequal, as our parfon preaches,
"Are this world's goods! and fure he rightly teaches;
"For what to maidens brings eternal stain,
"(Sad management!) gives honour to the fwain.
""Twas on the blitheft morn of all the year,
"When new-born May bids every fhepherd chear;
"When artful maids their rival fancies thew,
"And well-wrought garlands bloom on ev'ry bough;
"When gaudy fairs befpangle every street,
"And lowing cows the novel pasture greet;
"Fresh rose I, MARIAN hight, from ruftic bed,
"The morning dream still hov'ring o'er my head;
"Gay fhews and fweethearts had employ'd my
thought,

"The kifs imprinted, and the fairing bought!
"From lavander I drew the tucker'd fmock,
"And hofen boaftful of a various clock;
"The filver'd knot well fcollop'd on my head,

"And donn'd the funday gown berob❜d with red.