Ode to Simplicity

O COME, ye fragrant gales that sweep The surface of the summer deep, Nor yet refuse to waft my lay, And with it fan the breast of May; For humble though it be, It hails benign Simplicity.

Why do we haunt the Mountain's side, Ere yet the curly vapours glide? Why mark the op'ning buds of SPRING, Or trace the shrill Lark's quiv'ring wing? It is, that then we see Meek NATURE's sweet Simplicity.

The length'ned shades that Evening draws, Of calm repose the general pause, The Stream that winds yon meads along, The Nightingale's transcendent song, Borrow each charm from thee, O soft-ey'd Nymph, Simplicity!

Then to thy brow, lov'd WELLS! is due, A lasting wreath, of various hue, Hung with each perfum'd flow'r that blows, But chief, the Cowslip and the Rose: For surely thou art she! THYSELF—benign Symplicity!

And when thy MIMIC Pow'rs are shewn, Each other's talents are thy own, Appropriate to thyself we find, The Thrilling voice, the wounded mind; The starting tear we see In Nature's pure Simplicity.

Hast thou beheld the infant Moon Hie to her couch, ere Night's full noon? Then hast thou heard the Lover train, In tones of sad regret complain; So absent, all agree, To mourn for lost Simplicity.

So when upon thy well-wrought scene, The curtain drops its closing green, We grieve the mirthful hour is past, And murmur that it fled so fast; We wish again to see The Beauties of Symplicity.

And Loveliness delights to dwell, Upon thy bosoms's snowy swell, To bid the streamy lightnings fly, In liquid peril from thine eye; And to each heart decree The Triumph of Simplicity.

Ah! tho' I vent'rous pour the verse, Unskill'd thy praises to rehearse; Yet may'st thou kindly smile to hear, For O, the Tribute is sincere! The off'ring paid by me, In genuine TRUTH's Simplicity.