[Page 176]

RURAL SIMPLICITY.

AN ODE.

BY THE SAME.
1 O Thou, whom Love and Fancy lead
2 To wander near this woodland hill,
3 If ever music sooth'd thy quill,
4 Or pity wak'd thy gentle reed,
5 Repose beneath my humble tree,
6 If thou lov'st Simplicity.
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7 Stranger, if thy lot has laid
8 In toilsome scenes of busy life,
9 Full sorely may'st thou see the strife
10 Of weary passions ill repaid,
11 In a garden live like me,
12 If thou lov'st Simplicity.
13 Flowers have sprung for many a year
14 O'er the village-maiden's grave,
15 That, one memorial-sprig to save,
16 Bore it from a sister's bier;
17 And homeward walking, wept o'er me
18 The true tears of Simplicity.
19 And soon, her cottage-window near,
20 With care my slender stem she plac'd,
21 And fondly thus her Grief embrac'd,
22 And cherish'd sad Remembrance dear;
23 For Love sincere and Friendship free
24 Are children of Simplicity.
25 When past was many a painful day,
26 Slow-pacing o'er the village-green
27 In white were all its maidens seen,
28 And bore my guardian friend away.
29 Ah, Death! what sacrifice to thee
30 The ruins of Simplicity!
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31 One generous swain her heart approv'd,
32 A youth, whose fond and faithful breast.
33 With many an artless sigh confest,
34 In Nature's language that he lov'd:
35 But, Stranger, 'tis no tale for thee,
36 Unless thou lov'st Simplicity.
37 He died — and soon her lip was cold,
38 And soon her rosy lip was pale,
39 The village wept to hear the tale
40 When for both the slow bell toll'd —
41 Beneath yon flowery turf they lie,
42 The lovers of Simplicity.
43 Yet one boon have I to crave;
44 Stranger, if thy pity bleed,
45 Wilt thou do one tender deed,
46 And strew my pale flowers o'er their grave?
47 So lightly lie the turf on thee,
48 Because thou lov'st Simplicity!

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): RURAL SIMPLICITY. AN ODE.
Author: John Langhorne
Themes: retirement; rural life
Genres: ode
References: DMI 32664

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Source edition

Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. IV. [The second edition]. London: printed for G. Pearch, 1770, pp. 176-178. 4v. ; 8⁰. (ESTC T116245; DMI 1137; OTA K093079.004) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [(OC) 280 o.791].)

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