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ODE by THOMAS WARTON THE ELDER

First Line: TO TINKLING BROOKS, TO TWILIGHT SHADES
Last Line: "VIRTUE ALONE IS BLISS COMPLEAT."
Subject(s): NATURE; PLEASURE; SOLITUDE; VIRTUE; LONELINESS;

I.
TO tinkling Brooks, to twilight Shades,
To desert Prospects, rough and rude,
With youthful Rapture first I ran,
Enamour'd of sweet Solitude.

II.
On Beauty next I wond'ring gaz'd,
Too soon my supple Heart was caught;
An Eye, a Breast, a Lip, a Shape,
Was all I talk'd of, all I thought.

III.
Next, by the smiling Muses led,
On @3Pindus@1 laurell'd Top I dream,
Talk with old Bards, and listening hear
The Warbles of th' inchanting Stream.

IV.
Then, @3Harmony@1 and @3Picture@1 came
Twin-nymphs my Sense to entertain,
By Turns my Eye, my Ear was caught,
With @3Raphael@1's Stroke and @3Handel@1's Strain.

V.
At last, such various Pleasures prov'd,
All cloying, vain, unmanly found,
Sweet for a Time as Morning-Dew,
Yet Parents of some painful Wound;

VI.
Humbly I ask'd great @3Wisdom@1's Aid
To true Delight to lead my Feet;
When thus the Goddess whispering said,
"Virtue alone is Bliss compleat."



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