[Page 302]

Written upon leaving a FRIEND'S House in WALES.

By the Rev. Dr. M.
1 THE winds were loud, the clouds deep-hung;
2 And dragg'd their sweepy trains along
3 The dreary mountain's side;
4 When, from the hill, one look to throw
5 On Towy's rambling flood below,
6 I turn'd my horse — and sigh'd.
7 But soon the gusts of sleet and hail
8 Flew thick across the darken'd vale,
9 And blurr'd the face of day:
10 Forlorn and sad, I jogg'd along;
11 And tho' Tom cry'd, "You're going wrong,"
12 Still wander'd from my way.
13 The scenes, which once my fancy took,
14 And my aw'd mind with wonder struck,
15 Pass'd unregarded, all!
16 Nor black Trecarris' steepy height,
17 Nor waste Trecastle gave delight;
18 Nor clamorous Hondy's fall.
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19 Did the bleak day then give me pain?
20 The driving snow, or pelting rain,
21 Or sky with tempests fraught?
22 No! these unheeded rag'd around:
23 Nought in them so much Mine I found,
24 As claim'd one wandering thought.
25 Far other cares engross'd my mind,
26 Cares for the joys I left behind,
27 In
* Newton is the name of a seat belonging to Sir John Price.
Newton's happy groves!
28 Yet not because its woods disclose.
29 Or grots or lawns more sweet than those
30 Which Pan at noon-day loves;
31 But that, beside its social hearth
32 Dwells every joy, which youthful mirth
33 Or serious age can claim:
34 The man too whom my soul first knew,
35 To virtue and to honour true;
36 And friendship's sacred name.
37 O Newton, could these pensive lays
38 In worthy numbers scan thy praise,
39 Much gratitude would say;
40 But that the Muse, ingenuous maid,
41 Of flattery seems so much afraid,
42 She'll scarce her duty pay.
Brecknock, Oct. 16, 1749.

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Title (in Source Edition): Written upon leaving a FRIEND'S House in WALES.
Author: William Markham
Themes: weather; places; landscapes
Genres:
References: DMI 26686

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Source edition

Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. IV. London: printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley, 1763 [1st ed. 1758], pp. 302-303. 6v.: music; 8⁰. (ESTC T131163; OTA K104099.004) (Page images digitized by the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive from a copy in the archive's library.)

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