Stop, charioteer, and let me gaze awhile;
For Art’s and Nature’s charms around me smile:
There the broad ocean bids the soul expand;
There, gemm’d with villas, shines the fertile land;
There, wide extended fair Eblana lies,
Her spires, her domes, in graceful grandeur rise.
Blest be those domes, where Pity fix’d her throne,
Which mild Benevolence has mark’d her own!
Here may the lonely stranger bend his feet,
Nor dread the cold averted glance to meet;
Here modest Want may tell her piteous tale,
No stern repulse bids the sunk cheek turn pale:
While from these ample stores and glowing hearts
Fair Charity the lib’ral aid imparts;
And from her altars purest odours breathe,
Sweeter than all Arabia’s gales bequeath.
Long may fair Commerce on those billows ride,
And peace and plenty flow with ev’ry tide;
And to these gen’rous delegates of Heav’n
Th’increasing pow’r of doing good be giv’n!
(Mary Leadbeater)
More Poetry from Mary Leadbeater:
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Soul Poems, Smiling Poems, Lies & Deceit PoemsBased on Keywords: gemm, delegates, eblana