The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith. Оливер Голдсмит

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ fields, where summer spreads profusion round,

      Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale,

      Ye bending swains, that dress the flow'ry vale,

       notes

      page 7

      For me your tributary stores combine;

      Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine! 50

       As some lone miser visiting his store,

      Bends at his treasure, counts, re-counts it o'er;

      Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,

      Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still:

      Thus to my breast alternate passions rise, 55

      Pleas'd with each good that heaven to man supplies:

      Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,

      To see the hoard of human bliss so small;

      And oft I wish, amidst the scene, to find

      Some spot to real happiness consign'd, 60

      Where my worn soul, each wand'ring hope at rest,

      May gather bliss to see my fellows bless'd.

       But where to find that happiest spot below,

      Who can direct, when all pretend to know?

      The shudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone 65

      Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own,

      Extols the treasures of his stormy seas,

      And his long nights of revelry and ease;

      The naked negro, panting at the line,

      Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine, 70

      Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,

      And thanks his gods for all the good they gave.

      Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam,

      His first, best country ever is, at home.

      And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare, 75

      And estimate the blessings which they share,

      Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find

      An equal portion dealt to all mankind,

       notes

      page 8

      As different good, by Art or Nature given,

      To different nations makes their blessings even. 80

       Nature, a mother kind alike to all,

      Still grants her bliss at Labour's earnest call;

      With food as well the peasant is supplied

      On Idra's cliffs as Arno's shelvy side;

      And though the rocky-crested summits frown, 85

      These rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.

      From Art more various are the blessings sent;

      Wealth commerce, honour, liberty, content.

      Yet these each other's power so strong contest,

      That either seems destructive of the rest. 90

      Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,

      And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.

      Hence every state to one lov'd blessing prone,

      Conforms and models life to that alone.

      Each to the favourite happiness attends, 95

      And spurns the plan that aims at other ends;

      Till, carried to excess in each domain,

      This favourite good begets peculiar pain.

       But let us try these truths with closer eyes,

      And trace them through the prospect as it lies: 100

      Here for a while my proper cares resign'd,

      Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind,

      Like yon neglected shrub at random cast,

      That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.

       Far to the right where Apennine ascends, 105

      Bright as the summer, Italy extends;

      Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side,

      Woods over woods in gay theatric pride;

      

THE TRAVELLER (R. Westall)

       notes

      page 9

      While oft some temple's mould'ring tops between

      With venerable grandeur mark the scene 110

       Could Nature's bounty satisfy the breast,

      The sons of Italy were surely blest.

      Whatever fruits in different climes were found,

      That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground;

      Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear, 115

      Whose bright succession decks the varied year;

      Whatever sweets salute the northern sky

      With vernal lives that blossom but to die;

      These here disporting own the kindred soil,

      Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil; 120

      While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand

      To winnow fragrance round the smiling land.

       But small the bliss that sense alone bestows,

      And sensual bliss is all the nation knows.

      In florid beauty groves and fields appear, 125

      Man seems the only growth that dwindles СКАЧАТЬ