Thomson and Pollok: containing The seasons, by James Thomson, and The course of time, by Robert Pollok, A. M.

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102 AUTUMN.
Here wandering oft, fired with the restless thirst
01'thy applause, I solitary court
The' inspiring breeze: and meditate the book
Of Nature ever open; aiming thence, 670
Warm from the heart, to learn the moral song.
Here, as I steal along the sunny wall,
Where Autumn basks, with fruit empurpled deep,
My pleasing theme continual prompts my thought:
Presents the downy peach; the shining plum; 675
The ruddy, fragrant nectarine; and dark,
Beneath his ample leaf, the luscious fig.
The vine too here her curling tendrils shoots;
Hangs out her clusters, glowing to the south;
And scarcely wishes for a warmer sky. 680
Turn we a moment Fancy's rapid flight
3o vigorous soils and climes of fair extent;
Where, by the potent sun elated high,
~ ine vj~in dswells refulgent on the day;
Spreads o'er the vale; or up the mountain climbs, 685
Profuse; and drinks amid the sunny rocks,
From cliff to cliff increased, the heighten'd blazo.
Low bend the weighty boughs. The clusters clear,
Half through the foliage seen, or ardent flame,
Or shine transparent; while perfection breathes 690
White o'er the turgent film the living dew.
As thus they brighten with exalted juice,
Touch'd into flavour by the mingling ray;
The rural youth and virgins o'er the field,
Each fond for each to cull the' autumnal prime, 695
Exulting rove, and speak-the vintage nigh.
Then comes the crushing swain; the country floats,
And foams unbounded with the mashy flood;
That, by degrees fermented and refined,
Round the raised nations pours the cup of jcy: 709
The claret smooth, red as the lip we press
In sparkling fancy, while we drain the bowl;
The mellow-tasted burgundy; and, quick
As is the wit it gives, the gay champagne.