ODE to FANCY. Sir James Marriott 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. T131163 K104099.004 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. 287-293. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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ODE to FANCY . By the Same . I. GILDING with brighter beams the vernal skies , Now hastes the car of day to rise . Youth , and Mirth , and Beauty leads In golden reins the sprightly steeds , With wanton Love that rolls his sparkling eyes . Morpheus , no more Thy poppies , cropt on Lethe's margin , shed Around thy languid poet's head . Thou drowsy god , 'Tis time to break thy leaden rod , And give thy slumbers o'er . But come , thou woodland Nymph , along , Mistress of the vocal song , Fancy ever fair and free ; Whether on the mountains straying , Or on beds of roses playing , Daughter of sweet Liberty . II . Through all the ivy-circled cave Soft music at thy birth was heard to sound . The graces danc'd thy bower around , And gently dipt thee in the silver wave . With blossoms fair thy cradle drest , And rock'd their smiling babe to rest . To kiss thy lips , the bees , a murmuring throng , With busy wings , unnumber'd flew ; For thee , from every flower their tribute drew , And lull'd thy slumbers with an airy song . Come in thy heav'nly woven vest , That Iris' hand has ting'd in every dye , With which she paints the sky , Flowing o'er thv zoneless breast . III . Me , sweet enchantress , deign to bear O'er the seas , and thro' the air ; O'er the plains extended wide , O'er misty hills , and curling clouds we ride , Now mounting high , now sinking low , Thro' hail and rain , and vapours go ; Where is treasur'd up the snow : Where sleeps the thunder in its cell ; Where the swift-wing'd light'nings dwell ; Or where the blust'ring storms are taught to blow . Now tread the milky way ; Unnumber'd worlds that float in aether spy , Among the glittering planets stray , To the lunar orbit fly , And mountains , shores , and seas descry . Now catch the music of the spheres ; Which , since the birth of time , Have , in according chime , And fair proportion , rolling round , With each diviner sound Attentive Silence , pierc'd thy list'ning ears ; Unheard by all , but those alone Whom to wisdom's secret throne The Muse , with heav'n-taught guidance , deigns to bring , To trace the sacred paths with hallowed feet ; Or , Fancy , who the mystic shade , In thy airy car , pervade , Where Plato's raptur'd spirit holds its solemn seat . IV . But , Fancy , downward urge thy flight . On some mountain's towering height , With hoary frosts eternal crown'd , Rapt with dusky vapours round , Let me fix my stedfast feet . I feel , I feel the fanning gales ; The wat'ry mists beneath retreat . The noontide ray now darts its heat , And pours its glories o'er the vales . Glittering to the dancing beams , Urging their stubborn way the rocks among , I hear , and see a thousand streams Foam , and roar , and rush along . But to the plains descended , Their sudden rage is ended . Now lost in deep recess of darksome bowers . Again now sparkling thro' the meads Vested soft with vernal flowers , Reflecting the majestic towers , Its peaceful flood the roving channel leads . There the rural cots are seen . From whose low roof the curling smoke ascends , And dims with blueish volumes all the green . There some forest far extends Its groves embrown'd with lengthen'd shade ; Embosom'd where some Gothic seat , Of monarchs once retreat ; In wild magnificence array'd , The pride of ancient times presents , And lifts , in contrast fair display'd , Its sun-reflecting battlements . V. Near , some imperial city seems to reign , Triumphant o'er the subject land ; With domes of art Vitruvian crown'd . See gleam her gilded spires around , Her gates in aweful grandeur stand . Equal to shine in peace , or war sustain ; Her mighty bulwarks threat the plain With many a work of death , and armed mound . Where rolls her wealthy river deep and wide , Tall groves of crowded masts arise ; Their streamers waving to the skies , The banks are white with swelling sails , And distant vessels stem the tide , Circling thro' pendant cliffs , and watery dales . The russet hills , the valleys green beneath , The sallows brown , and dusky heath , The yellow corn , empurpled vine , In union soft their tints combine , And , Fancy , all engage thine eye With a sweet variety . While clouds the fleeting clouds pursue , In mutual shade , and mutual light , The changing landscape meets the sight ; 'Till the ken no more can view ; And heaven appears to meet the ground ; The rising lands , and azure distance drown'd Amid the gay horizon's golden bound . VI . Such are the scenes that oft invite To feed thee , Fancy , with delight . All that nature can create , Beauteous , aweful , new and great , Sweet enthusiast , is thy treasure , Source of wonder , and of pleasure ; Every sense to transport winning , Still unbounded and beginning . Then , Fancy , spread thy wings again ; Unlock the caverns of the main . Above , beneath , and all around : Let the tumbling billows spread ; 'Till the coral floor we tread , Exploring all the wealth that decks the realms profound ; There , gather gems that long have glow'd In the vast , unknown abode , The jasper vein'd , the saphire blue , The ruby bright with crimson hue , Whate'er the bed resplendent paves , Or decks the glittering roofs on high , Thro' whose translucent arch are seen the rolling waves . Fancy , these shall clasp thy vest , With these thy lovely brows be drest , In every gay , and various dye . But hark ! — the seas begin to roar , The whistling winds assault my ear , The lou'ring storms around appear — Fancy , bear me to the shore . There in thy realms , bright goddess , deign Secure to fix thy votary's feet : O give to follow oft thy train : Still with accustom'd lay thy power to greet ; To dwell with Peace , and sport with thee , Fancy , ever fair and free .