Christmas

ence, Summer, indolently laid To sleep beneath the cooling shade! Panting quick with sultry heat, Thirst and faint Fatigue retreat!

2Come, Christmas, father Thou of mirth, Patron of the festive hearth, Around whose social ev'ning flame The jovial song, the winter game, The chase renew'd in merry tale, The season's carols never fail. Who, chill the skies, Canst catch the glow of exercise, Following swift the foot-ball's course; Or with unresisted force, Where Frost arrests the harden'd tide, Shooting 'cross the rapid slide. Who, e'er the misty morn is grey, To some high covert hark'st away; While Sport, on lofty courser borne, In concert winds his echoing horn With the deeply-thund'ring hounds, Whose clangour wild, and joyful sounds, While Echo swells the doubling cry, Shake the woods with harmony. How does my eager bosom glow To give the well-known Tally-ho! Or shew, with cap inverted, where Stole away the cautious hare. Or, if the blast of Winter keen Spangles o'er the silvery green, Booted high thou lov'st to tread Marking, thro' the sedgy mead, Where the creeping moor-hen lies, Or snipes with sudden twitt'ring rise. Or joy'st the early walk to take Where, thro' the pheasant-haunted brake Oft as the well-aim'd gun resounds, The eager-dashing spaniel bounds.

2For thee of Buck my breeches tight, Clanging whip, and rowels bright, The hunter's cap my brows to guard, And suit of sportive green's prepar'd: For, since these delights are thine, Christmas, with thy bands I join.