Song, composed in August

I
NOW westlin winds, and slaught'ring guns
Bring Autumn's pleasant weather;
The moorcock springs, on whirring wings,
Amang the blooming heather:
Now waving grain, wide o'er the plain,
Delights the weary Farmer;
And the moon shines bright, as I rove at night,
To muse upon my Charmer.

II
The Pairtrick lo’es the fruitfu’ fells;
The Plover lo’es the mountains;
The Woodcock haunts the lanely dells;
The soaring Hern the fountains:
Thro' lofty groves, the Cushat roves,
The path o’ man to shun it;
The hazel bush o'erhangs the Thrush,
The spreading thorn the Linnet.

III
Thus ev'ry kind their pleasure find,
The savage and the tender;
Some social join, and leagues combine;
Some solitary wander:
Avaunt, away! the cruel sway,
Tyrannic man's dominion;
The Sportsman's joy, the murd'ring cry,
The flutt'ring, gory pinion!

IV
But PEGGY dear, the ev'ning 's clear,
Thick flies the skimming Swallow,
The sky is blue, the fields in view,
All fading-green and yellow:
Come let us stray our gladsome way,
And view the charms o’ Nature;
The rustling corn, the fruited thorn,
And ilka happy creature.

V
We'll gently walk, and sweetly talk,
While the silent moon shine clearly;
I'll grasp thy waist, and fondly prest,
Swear how I lo’e thee dearly:
Not vernal show'rs to budding flow'rs,
Not Autumn to the Farmer,
So dear can be, as thou to me,
My fair, my lovely Charmer!