... <br /> My eye, descending from the hill, surveys <br /> Where Thames amongst the wanton valleys strays; <br /> Thames, the most lov'd of all the Ocean's sons <br /> By his old sire, to his embraces runs, <br /> Hasting to pay his tribute to the sea, <br /> Like mortal life to meet eternity. <br /> Though with those streams he no resemblance hold <br /> Whose foam is amber, and their gravel gold, <br /> His genuine and less guilty wealth t' explore, <br /> Search not his bottom, but survey his shore, <br /> O'er which he kindly spreads his spacious wing, <br /> And hatches plenty for th' ensuing spring; <br /> Nor then destroys it with too fond a stay, <br /> Like mothers which their infants overlay; <br /> Nor, with a sudden and impetuous wave, <br /> Like profuse kings, resumes the wealth he gave. <br /> No unexpected inundations spoil <br /> The mower's hopes, nor mock the ploughman's toil, <br /> But godlike his unwearied bounty flows, <br /> First loves to do, then loves the good he does; <br /> Nor are his blessings to his banks confin'd, <br /> But free and common as the sea or wind; <br /> When he to boast or to disperse his stores, <br /> Full of the tributes of his grateful shores, <br /> Visits the world, and in his flying towers, <br /> Brings home to us, and makes both Indies ours; <br /> Finds wealth where 'tis, bestows it where it wants, <br /> Cities in deserts, woods in cities plants; <br /> So that to us no thing, no place is strange, <br /> While his fair bosom is the world's exchange. <br /> O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream <br /> My great example, as it is my theme! <br /> Though deep, yet clear, though gentle, yet not dull; <br /> Strong without rage, without o'erflowing full. <br />...<br /><br />Sir John Denham<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/cooper-s-hill-excerpts/
