REMEMBRANCE OF COLLINS

COMPOSED UPON THE THAMES NEAR RICHMOND

          GLIDE gently, thus for ever glide,
          O Thames! that other bards may see
          As lovely visions by thy side
          As now, fair river! come to me.
          O glide, fair stream! for ever so,
          Thy quiet soul on all bestowing,
          Till all our minds for ever flow
          As thy deep waters now are flowing.

          Vain thought!--Yet be as now thou art,
          That in thy waters may be seen                              10
          The image of a poet's heart,
          How bright, how solemn, how serene!
          Such as did once the Poet bless,
          Who murmuring here a later ditty,
          Could find no refuge from distress
          But in the milder grief of pity.
    
          Now let us, as we float along,
          For 'him' suspend the dashing oar;
          And pray that never child of song
          May know that Poet's sorrows more.                          20
          How calm! how still! the only sound,
          The dripping of the oar suspended!
          --The evening darkness gathers round
          By virtue's holiest Powers attended.
                                                              1789.