Sir George & The Park

A spacious garden near the mansion lies,

Where flowers and fruits in beauteous order rise,

Where shady walks their verdant maze confound,

And shower their mingled blossoms on the ground,

Now all impervious to the light of day,

Now glimmering with a faint and powerless ray;

And many a bower of peace, and bright parterre.

Of arabesques of fairy flowers is there.

Mark, too, you sunny wall that skirts the plain;

Here fair Pomona holds her golden reign,      

Within the deep-empurpled bounds that bear

The ruddy nectarine, and the juicy pear,

The clustering grape, all bright with living dew,

And downy peaches, deepening on the view.

Here, in a fount, begirt with iron bound,

Small golden fishes fearless sport around

See how along the rippling waves they gleam,

Like rays of hope athwart life’s troubled stream,

Like the few stars that gem the stormy night.

And shed from time to time a fitful light.