ODE TO HEALTH. Isaac Hawkins Browne Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T116245 1136 K093079.003 Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. III. [The second edition]. London printed for G. Pearch 1770 pp. 199-202. 4v. ; 8⁰.

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ODE TO HEALTH . BY J. H. B. ESQ . COME , rosy Health , celestial maid , On Zephyr's silken wing convey'd , In smiles thy heavenly features drest , Descend , thou sweet enchanting guest All charming , whether you appear In STAMER's lovely form and air , Or her's who yonder shines from far Fair as the morning's silver star , In youth's soft prime and beauty's pride , On Shannon's flower-enamell'd side , By shepherds , in each amorous tale , Yclept the Miss Fitzgerald . Lily of the vale . Bright daughter of the blushing dawn , Nymph of the woods , and daisied lawn , Who fliest the busy , full resorts Of peopled cities , revelling courts , But , clad in russet , lov'st to dwell With Temperance in the rural cell , Attend the sheep-boy at his stand , Or ploughman o'er the furrow'd land , Or wait , at spring of fragrant morn , The opening hound , and cheering horn ; Ever cheerful , ever gay . Hither come and chase away , Sorrow of dejected eye , The plaintive tear , the struggling sigh , Disease with sickly yellow spread , And Pain that holds the hanging head ; And in their stead conduct along , Fantastic Dance , and airy Song , Wit , of taste correct and fine , Frolic Mirth , that waits on wine , Hope that fans the lover's fires , Pleasing Follies , gay Desires , For these are thine , a sprightly train , Without thee lifeless , joyless , vain . 'Tis you who pour o'er Beauty's face The artless bloom , the native grace ; You robb'd the bashful rose , and shed Its soft , refin'd , delicious red On WALLER's cheek ; 'tis you bestow On MANSEL's lips the ripening glow ; With quickening spirits you supply The trembling lustre of her eye . Through every form of mystic birth , The swarming air , the teeming earth , Through all the fruitful deep contains , Thy sovereign vital influence reigns , Mixes , ferments , inspires the whole , Pours the glad warmth , the genial soul , Breathes in the breeze , distills in showers , Swells the young bud , and wakes the flowers : With livelier green the herbage springs , The violet blows , the linnet sings , Its richest colouring Nature wears , And Pleasure leads the wanton years . Oh ! see I pine distress'd , forlorn , And seek in vain thy wish'd return : Return then , Goddess , heavenly mild , Indulgent now as once you smil'd , In golden Youth's propitious May , When jocund danc'd my hours away , With love , and joy , and rapture blest , And thou wast there to crown the rest . Then , as around the Seasons range , And years in sweet succession change , On Shannon's silver-flowing stream , I'll sing and thou shalt be my theme ; Rich in my verse , thy charms shall shine , And HAROLD's beauties yield to thine .