William Shenstone (1714-1763). Song: 'O'er desert plains, and rushy meres'. William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. 1909. The Book of Georgian Verse

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Georgian Verse. 1909.

Song: ‘O’er desert plains, and rushy meres’

By William Shenstone (1714–1763)


O’ER desert plains, and rushy meres,
And wither’d heaths, I rove;
Where tree, nor spire, nor cot appears,
I pass to meet my love.

But tho’ my path were damask’d o’er	5
With beauties e’er so fine,
My busy thoughts would fly before
To fix alone—on thine.

No fir-crown’d hills could give delight,
No palace please mine eye;	10
No pyramid’s aerial height,
Where mould’ring monarchs lie.

Unmov’d, should Eastern kings advance,
Could I the pageant see:
Splendour might catch one scornful glance,	15
Nor steal one thought from thee.