Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. III. The Eighteenth Century: Addison to Blake

Mark Akenside (1721–1770)

For a Grotto

TO me, whom in their lays the shepherds call

Actæa, daughter of the neighbouring stream,

This cave belongs. The fig-tree and the vine,

Which o’er the rocky entrance downward shoot,

Were placed by Glycon. He with cowslips pale,

Primrose and purple lychnis, decked the green

Before my threshold, and my shelving walls

With honeysuckle covered. Here, at noon,

Lulled by the murmur of my rising fount,

I slumber: here my clustering fruits I tend,

Or from the humid flowers at break of day

Fresh garlands weave, and chase from all my bounds

Each thing impure or noxious. Enter in,

O Stranger, undismayed. Nor bat nor toad

Here lurks; and, if thy breast of blameless thoughts

Approve thee, not unwelcome shalt thou tread

My quiet mansion: chiefly if thy name

Wise Pallas and the immortal Muses own.