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

I_

SUMMER. 41
While tyrant Heat, dispreading through the sky,
With rapid sway, his burning influence darts 210
On man and beast and herb and tepid stream.
Who can unpitying see the flowery race,
Shed by the morn, their new-flush'd bloom resign,
Before the parching beam? so fade the fair,
When fevers revel through their azure veins. 215
But one, the lofty follower of the sun,
Sad when he sets, shuts up her yellow leaves,
Drooping all night; and, when he warm returns,
Points her enamour'd bosom to his ray.
Home, from his morning task,.theq swan retreats
His flock before him steifping to the fld: 321
While ff-iui-ilidder'd mother lows around
The cheerful cottage, then expecting food,
The food of innocence and health! the daw,
The rook, and magpie, to the gray grown oaks 225
That the calm village in their verdant arms,
Sheltering, embrace, direct their lazy flight:
Where on the mingling boughs they sit embower'd,
All the hot noon, till cooler hours arise.
Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene; 230
And, in a corner of the buzzing shade,
The housedog with the vacant greyhound lies,
Outstretch'd and sleepy. In his slumbers one
Attacks the nightly thief, and one exults
O'er hill and dale; till, waken'd by the wasp, 235
Theygrtitng snap. Not shall the Muse disdain
To let the little noisy summer race
Live in her lay, and flutter through her song,
Not mean though simple; to the sun allied,
From him they draw their animating fire. 240
Waked by his warmer ray, the reptile young
Come wing'd abroad; by the light air upborne,
Lighter, and full of soul. From every chink,
And secret corner, where they slept away
The wintry storms; or, rising from their tombs, 241
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