A CHAIN of hills in Asia seek,
Where snow o’erspreads the summit’s bleak,
Throughout the live long year;
While all the lower parts are found
With corn, wine, fruits, and rice t’abound,
The heart of man to cheer.
That beauteous island of North Wales,
(Fann’d by the cooling western gales,)
By ancients “Mona” called,
I next propose: here Druid sires
Oft kindled superstition’s fires;
By her strong hand enthrall’d.
Now turn your eyes to Egypt’s plains,
Ne’er water’d by refreshing rains,
And tell what copious stream,
Its fertilising produce yields,
Making the gardens and the fields,
With richest plenty teem.
But contemplation hence recall,
Visit now Russia’s capital,
And speak th’ illustrious name
Of Howard –here, lov’d and admir’d,
That great philanthropist expir’d–
How justly earn’d his fame!
Next to the English Channel sail;
See, where opposing tides prevail,
And dash against the rocks,
(Those formidable, which are found
A few miles off from Plymouth sound)
With oft repeated shocks.
Here too, before you steer to land,
Mark, as you westward take your stand,
A promontory rise,
(To sailors as a seamark known
Behold it proudly tower alone,
And aim to reach the skies !
And now, you know, throughout the year,
The sun in his celestial sphere
Passes through twelve bright signs:
Your wand’rings, therefore, quick retrace,
And by them you will find the place
Where for one month he shines.
(Elizabeth Hitchener)
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Based on Topics: Man Poems, Place Poems, Fame Poems, Wine Poems, Sign & Symbol Poems, English Poems, Capital PoemsBased on Keywords: mona, superstition, expir, plymouth, formidable, erspreads, philanthropist, fertilising, seamark