Diffusive Nature, who with liberal hand
Scatters her bounties round, and decks the Spring
In all its gay attire, the Virgin's cheek
Flushes with beauty, and adorns her brow
With charms attractive; shapes her faultless form
With skill unerring, on her breast bestows
The snowy hue, while o'er her shining neck
In wanton ringlets flows her ebon hair
Dishevell'd, graceful, and her sparkling eyes
Dart kindling flame: majestic on she moves,
Conscious of native worth, and smiling love
Alluring. Hither, ye! whose hard'ned hearts
Ne'er felt a lover's pangs, ah! hither come,
To feel the force of Beauty: here survey,
In radiant lustre, the bewitching grace,
Which from the dawn of time o'er Nature held
Her soft domain. Since first the vital spark
Awak'd the human breast, and Man arose
To conscious being, the fair female form
Dazzled his eye, and thro' his panting breast
Shot Beauty's ray. When in primaeval Spring
Life uncorrupted roll'd its golden hours,
Free from th' attacks of Vice, as yet unsour'd
With Pain corroding; nor Disease had rear'd
Her snaky crest to blast their blooming days:
Then Beauty reign'd, and form'd the sacred tye
Connubial. Oft, amid the green retreat,
Where fanning zephrys play'd, the joyous Hour
Fled on the wings of Love: here Innocence,
And balmy Peace, and Friendship, heaven-born Power,
By Beauty heighten'd, o'er the human pair
Their choicest influence shed. Nor Beauty less,
Thro' long succeeding ages, o'er the heart
Her conquest held; devoted man attests
The pleasing truth, while at the syren voice
Of Music, thrilling the enchanting note,
He prostrate falls, the fond distracted prey
Of passions raging thro' th' enfever'd heart.