Sweet-william, or Verses Occasioned by the Christening of Mr. Wood's Son, Who Was Named Sweet-william, April…

With song, sweet babe, we celebrate thy birth, And hail thee to the chequer'd scenes of earth: Thy smiles of innocence our hearts endear, When Spring now fairest paints the purple year; Promise of future fruit, all nature blooms, Hills, vales, woods, gardens, send forth rich perfumes; Such beauty in etherial mildness reigns, We match our meadows with Idalian plains; And thee, did not thine eyes our error prove, Thee we should deem a little smiling Love. Sweet-William, wellcome to the realms of day! O, may'st thou bloom the sweetest flower of May! Thy lovely mother's gentle mind inherit, Thy father's honest heart, and generous spirit— Yes, Yes, I see (so strong prophetic power!) An embryo genius in this rising flower, A hand that's valiant, and a heart that's true To serve his neighbours, and his nation too: Thus in the acorn's little folds we see An oak imperial in epitome; By slow degrees the leaves, the boughs expand, Rise, spread, shade, flourish, and defend the land.