THE CELEBRATED GARDENS OF SIR R. C. HOARE, BART.
WHERE’ER amid these classic scenes I rove,
By lake or lawn, through gloomy grot or grove;
Or, in some solemn temple’s sacred bound,
I muse of other times, to the soft sound
Of falling waters; still, where’er I turn,
Some lofty God, or laureled Hero’s urn,
To Memory’s view, deeds of renown restore,
And o’er the soul energic spirits pour.
Yet pass we on; for though I stray’d to greet
These lovely scenes, with wandering pilgrim feet,
Yet came I not with critic eye to trace
The various beauties of this favour’d place,
Where Art and Nature gracefully combine,
And with Armidian ‘chantments form each line;
Where oft the Muse’ has thrown her soft regard,
And waked these Echoes, as her sweet reward.
Yet might the Genius of the garden say,
“What charm has lured the Wanderer from his way?
“Haply devotion has the Pilgrim led,
“And to yon convent are his footsteps sped;
“Or ‘neath that modest garb, and meek attire,
“There glows a spark of our OWN ALFRED’S fire.
“Should my divining spirit say aright,
“The latent embers sudden bring to light,
“Hie onward still, great Alfred’s Tower you’ll find,
“Associate meet for the aspiring mind!”
“A conscious blush the Stranger’s cheek might own,
“But such as Alfred would himself have known.
Yet still conceal’d beneath the Pilgrim’s dress,
He came, he said, if not for happiness,
At least to sooth the Wanderer’s lonely hour,
And breathe his sighs along the beauteous Stour.
(Mrs. Walter Spencer)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Light Poems, Mind Poems, Soul Poems, Place Poems, Fire Poems, Happiness Poems, Art Poems, Garden Poems, Genius PoemsBased on Keywords: stour, laureled, bart, hoare