90
GRAY'S POEMS.
As the whirlwind in its course;
As the thunder's fiery stroke,
Glancing on the shiver'd oak;
Did the sword of Conan mow[N 1]
The crimson harvest of the foe.
As the thunder's fiery stroke,
Glancing on the shiver'd oak;
Did the sword of Conan mow[N 1]
The crimson harvest of the foe.
SONNET
ON THE DEATH OF MR. RICHARD WEST.
[See W. S. Landori Poemata, p. 186.]
In vain to me the smiling mornings[N 2] shine,
And redd'ning Phœbus lifts his golden fire:[N 3]
The birds in vain their amorous descant[N 4] join;
Or cheerful fields resume their green attire:
These ears, alas! for other notes repine 5
A different object do these eyes require:
My lonely anguish melts no heart but mine;
And in my breast the imperfect joys expire.[N 5]
And redd'ning Phœbus lifts his golden fire:[N 3]
The birds in vain their amorous descant[N 4] join;
Or cheerful fields resume their green attire:
These ears, alas! for other notes repine 5
A different object do these eyes require:
My lonely anguish melts no heart but mine;
And in my breast the imperfect joys expire.[N 5]
Notes
- ↑ V. 9. "Primosque et extremos metendo stravit humum, sine clade victor." Hor. Od. iv. 14, 31.
- ↑ V. 1. Milt. P. L. v. 168, "That crown'st the smiling morn". Luke.
- ↑ V. 2. Lucret. vi, 204, "Devolet in terram liquidi color aureus ignis." Luke.
- ↑ V. 3. Milt. P. L. iv. 602, "She all night long her amorous descant sung." Luke.
- ↑ V. 8. "And in my ear the imperfect accent dies." Dryden. Ovid. Rogers.
V. 12. Spens. B. Id. cant. iii. st. 5: "On these Cupido winged armies led, of little loves." Luke.
V. 14. A line similar to this occurs in Cibber's Alteration of Richard the Third, act ii. sc. 2:
