A Night Piece

In the pleasing gloom of Night, Let me steal from mortal sight; Oft, unnotic'd, may I rove Through the shady, darksome grove: Where pale Cynthia's feeble beam, Glimmers o'er the gurg'ling stream; And sweet Philomela's notes, Eccho'd from harmonious grotts, Gently sounding thro' the vale, Attunes the soft, nocturnal gale.

Contemplation, placid Queen! With mind unruffled and serene— Lead me to the cool retreat Where the Muses love to meet: Here may I their call obey, And raise the melancholy lay; By the tuneful Nine inspir'd— My soul with soft emotion fir'd— Pour the gently pleasing verse, And fancy'd reveries rehearse. Wheresoe'er I turn my sight, 'Tis all Enchantment, all delight: The moping Owl's discordant strains, With uncouth music fills the plains: Here the Rill that winding flows, Murm'ring, tempts to sweet repose. To the faintly lunar ray, The little fry their gambols play; Now, near the surface of the tide, Adown the shining current glide; Now, in shoals, pursuing seem, And urge the chace along the stream. Beneath yon lofty mountain's brow, Deeper frowns the steeps below; Whilst the Waterfall's rude course, Tumbling with impetuous force, Around a chilling horror throws, And spreads new terrors as it goes.

On the neighb'ring levell'd mead, Fairy tribes, with airy tread, Around in blithsome frolic pass, And careless trip it o'er the grass; In pairs uniting, now advance, Leading up the harmless dance; Whilst, from circling clouds of air, Rapt'rous harmony I hear; Thrilling music fills the sky, And all is melting Melody: E'en Cynthia, from her starry height, A while retards her wonted flight, Detains her silver, sliding Car, And lends th' attentive, ravish'd ear; The soul-inspiring strains to prove, Heedless of Endymion's love. Solemn stillness now prevails; Ev'ry noisy accent fails; Scarce the lightly passing breeze, Rustling, whispers thro' the trees. 'Mid the silent, awful gloom, Reason now her seat resumes; Gives Virtue to the ravish'd sight, And wakes the heart to pure delight; Prompts me to offer at her shrine, And paints her lovely and divine; Strips Vice of all her specious glow, And shows her latent sting of woe: Makes me disdain each vicious charm, And all my soul to virtue warms: Bids ev'ry rebel passion cease, And leads me on to bliss and peace: Confirms the wav'ring, good intent, And points the paths to real Content. Sweetly moralizing pow'r! Give me oft Reflection's hour; Oft, beneath the nightly shade, May I, musing o'er the glade, Bend my pensive, devious way, When the sun's declining ray Puts a period to the day.