Spring and Autumn

When Spring displays her various sweets,
And op'ning blossoms cheer the eyes,
And fancy ev'ry beauty meets,
Whence does the pleasing transport rise?

Soon will their transient date expire,
They fly and mock the fond pursuit;
New pleasures then the thought inspire,
And bounteous Autumn yields her fruit.

Where smiling beauties charm'd the sight,
Whose fragrance bless'd the vernal hours;
Nectarious fruits the taste invite,
And compensate for faded flow'rs.

Thus, when the spring of youth decays,
Though deck'd with blossoms sweet and fair,
Autumn a nobler scene displays,
If fruits of virtue flourish there.

For this the vernal buds arise;
But, if no useful virtues grow,
Their worthless beauty quickly flies
And blossoms only serv'd for show