Nature

Song. The Skylark

by William Shenstone 1714–1763

From Poetical Works (1778), vol. II

Nature

GO, tuneful Bird! that gladd'st the skies,
To Daphne's window speed thy way,
And there on quiv'ring pinions rise,
And there thy vocal art display.

And if she deign thy notes to hear,
And if she praise thy matin song,
Tell her the sounds that sooth her ear
To Damon's native plains belong.

Tell her, in livelier plumes array'd,
The bird from Indian groves may shine;
But ask the lovely partial maid
What are his notes compar'd to thine?

Then bid her treat yon' witless beau,
And all his flaunting race, with scorn,
And lend an ear to Damon's woe,
Who sings her praise, and sings forlorn.

MLA

Shenstone, William. “Song. The Skylark.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shenstone/70/.

Chicago

Shenstone, William. “Song. The Skylark.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shenstone/70/.

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