Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79. | | | | Derbyshire, the Peak | | An Ode Written in the Peak | | Michael Drayton (1563–1631) |
| | | THIS while we are abroad | |
| Shall we not touch our lyre? | |
| Shall we not sing an ode? | |
| Shall that holy fire, | |
| In us that strongly glowed, | 5 |
| In this cold air expire? | |
| |
| Long since the summer laid | |
| Her lusty bravery down, | |
| The autumn half is way’d, | |
| And Boreas ’gins to frown, | 10 |
| Since now I did behold | |
| Great Brute’s first builded town. | |
| |
| Though in the utmost Peak | |
| Awhile we do remain, | |
| Amongst the mountains bleak | 15 |
| Exposed to sleet and rain, | |
| No sport our hours shall break | |
| To exercise our vein. | |
| |
| What though bright Phœbus’ beams | |
| Refresh the southern ground, | 20 |
| And though the princely Thames | |
| With beauteous nymphs abound, | |
| And by old Camber’s streams | |
| Be many wonders found: | |
| |
| Yet many rivers clear | 25 |
| Here glide in silver swathes, | |
| And what of all most dear, | |
| Buxton’s delicious baths, | |
| Strong ale and noble cheer, | |
| To assuage breem winter’s scathes. | 30 |
| |
| Those grim and horrid caves, | |
| Whose looks affright the day, | |
| Wherein nice Nature saves | |
| What she would not bewray, | |
| Our better leisure craves | 35 |
| And doth invite our lay. | |
| |
| In places far or near, | |
| Or famous or obscure, | |
| Where wholesome is the air, | |
| Or where the most impure, | 40 |
| All times and everywhere | |
| The Muse is still in ure. | | | | |
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