To the Author of Poems [Joseph Cottle][;] Published Anonymously at Bristol in September 1795

1. 1Unboastful Bard! whose verse concise yet clear
2. 2Tunes to smooth melody unconquer'd sense,
3. 3May your fame fadeless live, as 'never-sere'
4. 4The Ivy wreathes yon Oak, whose broad defence
5. 5Embowers me from Noon's sultry influence!
6. 6For, like that nameless Rivulet stealing by,
7. 7Your modest verse to musing Quiet dear
8. 8Is rich with tints heaven-borrow'd: the charm'd eye
9. 9Shall gaze undazzled there, and love the soften'd sky.

1. 10Circling the base of the Poetic mount
2. 11A stream there is, which rolls in lazy flow
3. 12Its coal-black waters from Oblivion's fount:
4. 13The vapour-poison'd Birds, that fly too low,
5. 14Fall with dead swoop, and to the bottom go.
6. 15Escaped that heavy stream on pinion fleet
7. 16Beneath the Mountain's lofty-frowning brow,
8. 17Ere aught of perilous ascent you meet,
9. 18A mead of mildest charm delays th' unlabouring feet.

1. 19Not there the cloud-climb'd rock, sublime and vast,
2. 20That like some giant king, o'er-glooms the hill;
3. 21Nor there the Pine-grove to the midnight blast
4. 22Makes solemn music! But th' unceasing rill
5. 23To the soft Wren or Lark's descending trill
6. 24Murmurs sweet undersong 'mid jasmin bowers.
7. 25In this same pleasant meadow, at your will
8. 26I ween, you wander'd--there collecting flowers
9. 27Of sober tint, and herbs of med'cinable powers!

1. 28There for the monarch-murder'd Soldier's tomb
2. 29You wove th' unfinish'd wreath of saddest hues;
3. 30And to that holier chaplet added bloom
4. 31Besprinkling it with Jordan's cleansing dews.
5. 32But lo your Henderson awakes the Muse----
6. 33His Spirit beckon'd from the mountain's height!
7. 34You left the plain and soar'd mid richer views!
8. 35So Nature mourn'd when sunk the First Day's light,
9. 36With stars, unseen before, spangling her robe of night!

1. 37Still soar, my Friend, those richer views among,
2. 38Strong, rapid, fervent, flashing Fancy's beam!
3. 39Virtue and Truth shall love your gentler song;
4. 40But Poesy demands th' impassion'd theme:
5. 41Waked by Heaven's silent dews at Eve's mild gleam
6. 42What balmy sweets Pomona breathes around!
7. 43But if the vext air rush a stormy stream
8. 44Or Autumn's shrill gust moan in plaintive sound,
9. 45With fruits and flowers she loads the tempest-honor'd ground.