EVENING
,
A
PASTORAL
.
TO
HENRY
GRIMSTON
The
chosen
,
the
best
beloved
friend
of
Mr.
B.'s
youth
;
his
amiable
un
wearied
friend
to
his
latest
hour
.
This
excellent
young
gentleman
devoted
nearly
two
years
,
about
the
close
of
Mr.
B.'s
life
,
in
accompanying
him
to
Bath
,
to
the
sea
,
&c.
and
spent
a
whole
winter
with
him
at
Dr.
Berkeley's
in
Berkshire
.
Mr.
G.
mourned
at
Mr.
B.'s
death
as
for
a
brother
,
as
did
seve
ral
other
gentlemen
of
his
intimate
friends
.
,
ESQ
.
OF
YORKSHIRE
.
PHOEBUS
now
with
fainter
fire
Gilds
the
hamlet's
pointed
spire
;
Dews
descending
bless
the
soil
,
Eve
suspends
the
peasant's
toil
;
O'er
the
panzy-chequer'd
plains
Whistling
tread
the
jocund
swains
;
Marking
now
with
glist'ning
eyes
Smoak
ascending
from
the
skies
,
Token
of
the
housewife's
care
,
Earnest
of
their
simple
fare
.
Pleas'd
the
toils
of
day
are
o'er
,
Rich
without
the
miser's
store
;
Blest
with
love
and
rosy
health
,
Anxious
for
no
other
wealth
.
Careless
of
the
coming
day
,
Each
pursues
his
homeward
way
.
In
no
borrow'd
charms
array'd
Mark
the
lovely
Milking-maid
,
Poising
well
the
foaming
pail
,
Trip
along
the
pasture
dale
;
To
direct
her
True-love's
way
Loud
she
tunes
her
chearful
lay
;
He
,
descending
from
the
hill
,
Meets
her
by
the
clacking
mill
.
Homeward
as
they
drive
the
cows
.
He
repeats
his
artless
vows
:
As
the
church
they
loit'ring
pass
Rosy
blushes
tinge
the
lass
;
If
the
theme
the
swain
pursues
,
Soon
the
priest
shall
have
his
dues
.
Rustling
from
the
noisy
school
,
Heedless
of
the
ferril's
rule
,
Heirs
to
Nature's
purest
joys
,
Mark
the
happy
village
boys
,
(
Foes
declar'd
to
rest
and
peace
,
)
O'er
the
green
pursue
the
geese
;
Summon'd
by
their
cackling
cries
To
the
spot
the
housewife
hies
;
Arm'd
with
distaff
,
'stead
of
steel
,
Soon
the
foe
her
distaff
feel
:
Quickly
scar'd
,
the
truants
fly
:
Homewards
now
in
haste
they
hie
.
Guardians
of
the
village
wealth
,
Foes
declar'd
to
fraud
and
stealth
,
Tenants
of
the
chearful
hearth
,
Frequent
cause
of
harmless
mirth
,
Welcome
to
their
master's
board
,
Partners
of
his
scanty
hoard
.
See
before
the
wicket
gate
,
Curs
parade
in
mimic
state
,
Heedless
of
the
proffer'd
bone
,
Eager
still
to
guard
their
own
,
Each
his
faithful
service
pays
,
And
with
threat'ning
aspect
bays
.
Waken'd
by
the
various
note
,
Echo
quits
her
cave
remote
,
Wandering
o'er
the
dewy
plain
,
Warbles
still
the
varied
strain
.
Mark
the
village
murmurs
cease
,
Night
appears
with
balmy
peace
.
Each
extend
their
silent
reign
O'er
the
peaceful
village
plain
;
Lovelorn
maidens
dream
of
bliss
,
Sleeping
yield
the
balmy
kiss
;
Coy
,
no
more
with
rapture
crown
Those
on
whom
they
us'd
to
frown
.
Prudence
,
leagu'd
with
subtle
art
,
Sways
no
more
the
yielding
heart
.
Fancy
now
,
with
visions
bless'd
,
Crown's
the
cotter's
peaceful
rest
.