SongComposedInAugust

songcomposedinaugust

tune—“ihadahorse,ihadnaemair.”

nowwestlinwindsandslaught'ringguns

bringautumn'spleasantweather;

themoorcockspringsonwhirringwings

amangthebloomingheather:

nowwavinggrain,wideo'ertheplain,

delightsthewearyfarmer;

andthemoonshinesbright,wheniroveatnight,

tomuseuponmycharmer.

thepartridgelovesthefruitfulfells,

theploverlovesthemountains;

thewoodcockhauntsthelonelydells,

thesoaringhernthefountains:

thro'loftygrovesthecushatroves,

thepathofmantoshunit;

thehazelbusho'erhangsthethrush,

thespreadingthornthelinnet.

thusev'rykindtheirpleasurefind,

thesavageandthetender;

somesocialjoin,andleaguescombine,

somesolitarywander:

avaunt,away!thecruelsway,

tyrannicman'sdominion;

thesportsman'sjoy,themurd'ringcry,

theflutt'ring,gorypinion!

but,ydear,theev'ning'sclear,

thickfliestheskimmingswallow,

theskyisblue,thefieldsinview,

allfading-greenandyellow:

comeletusstrayourgladsomeway,

andviewthecharmsofnature;

therustlingcorn,thefruitedthorn,

andev'ryhappycreature.

we'llgentlywalk,andsweetlytalk,

tillthesilentmoonshineclearly;

i'llgraspthywaist,and,fondlyprest,

swearhowilovetheedearly:

notvernalshow'rstobuddingflow'rs,

notautumntothefarmer,

sodearcanbeasthoutome,

myfair,mylovelycharmer!