ARGUMENT. The subject proposed.-Addressed to Mr. Onslow.A prospect of the fields ready for harvest.-Reflections in praise of industry raised by that view.Reaping. A tale relative to it.-A harvest storm. -Shooting and hunting; their barbarity.-A ludicrous account of fox-hunting.-A view of an orchard. -Wall-fruit.-A vineyard.-A description of fogs, frequent in the latter part of Autumn: whence a digression, inquiring into the rise of fountains and rivers. Birds of season considered, that now shift their habitation: The prodigious number of them that cover the northern and western isles of Scotland. Hence a view of the country.-A prospect of the discoloured, fading woods.-After a gentle dusky day, moon-light.-Autumnal meteors.-Morning: to which succeeds a calm, pure, sun-shiny day, such as usually shuts up the season.-The harvest being gathered in, the country dissolved in joy.-The whole concludes with a panegyric on a philosophical Country life. AUTUMN. CROWN'D with the sickle and the wheaten sheaf, While Autumn, nodding o'er the yellow plain, Comes jovial on; the Doric reed once more, Well-pleased I tune. Whate'er the Wintry frost Nitrous prepared; the various blossom'd Spring Put in white promise forth; and Summer suns Concocted strong, rush boundless now to view, Full, perfect all, and swell my glorious theme. Onslow the Muse, ambitious of thy name, To grace, inspire, and dignify her song, Would from the Public Voice thy gentle ear A while engage. Thy noble cares she knows, The patriot virtues that distend thy thought, Spread on thy front, and in thy bosom glow; While listening senates hang upon thy tongue, Devolving through the maze of eloquence A roll of periods, sweeter than her song. But she too pants for public virtue, she, Though weak of power, yet strong in ardent will, Whene'er her country rushes on her heart, Assumes a bolder note, and fondly tries To mix the patriot's with the poet's flame. When the bright virgin gives the beauteous days, And Libra weighs in equal scales the year; From heaven's high cope the fierce effulgence shook Of parting Summer, a serener blue, With golden light enliven'd, wide invests The happy world. Attemper'd suns arise, |