The Works of Anna Laetitia Barbauld/Volume 1/On the Backwardness of the Spring 1771
For other versions of this work, see On the Backwardness of the Spring 1771.
ON THE BACKWARDNESS OF THE SPRING 1771.
In vain the sprightly sun renews his course,
Climbs up the’ ascending signs and leads the day,
While long embattled clouds repel his force,
And lazy vapours choke the golden ray.
Climbs up the’ ascending signs and leads the day,
While long embattled clouds repel his force,
And lazy vapours choke the golden ray.
In vain the Spring proclaims the new-born year;
No flowers beneath her lingering footsteps spring,
No rosy garland binds her flowing hair,
And in her train no feathered warblers sing;
No flowers beneath her lingering footsteps spring,
No rosy garland binds her flowing hair,
And in her train no feathered warblers sing;
Her opening breast is stained with frequent showers,
Her streaming tresses bathed in chilling dews;
And sad before her move the pensive Hours,
Whose flagging wings no breathing sweets diffuse.
Her streaming tresses bathed in chilling dews;
And sad before her move the pensive Hours,
Whose flagging wings no breathing sweets diffuse.
Like some lone pilgrim clad in mournful weed,
Whose wounded bosom drinks her falling tears,
On whose pale cheek relentless sorrows feed,
Whose dreary way no sprightly carol cheers.
Whose wounded bosom drinks her falling tears,
On whose pale cheek relentless sorrows feed,
Whose dreary way no sprightly carol cheers.
Not thus she breathed on Arno's purple shore,
And called the Tuscan Muses to her bowers;
Not this the robe in Enna's vale she wore,
When Ceres' daughter filled her lap with flowers.
And called the Tuscan Muses to her bowers;
Not this the robe in Enna's vale she wore,
When Ceres' daughter filled her lap with flowers.
Clouds behind clouds in long succession rise,
And heavy snows oppress the springing green;
The dazzling waste fatigues the aching eyes,
And Fancy droops beneath the' unvaried scene.
And heavy snows oppress the springing green;
The dazzling waste fatigues the aching eyes,
And Fancy droops beneath the' unvaried scene.
Indulgent Nature, loose this frozen zone;
Through opening skies let genial sunbeams play;
Dissolving snows shall their glad impulse own,
And melt upon the bosom of the May.
Through opening skies let genial sunbeams play;
Dissolving snows shall their glad impulse own,
And melt upon the bosom of the May.