Oh, mellow sun ! oh, sweet south wind!
Which ruffling all the pansies
With loving touch wakes up the mind
To pleasant summer fancies.

As here upon this bevilled ring,
Which clasps the lilied pool,
I lean and meditate, and sing
In Nature's flowery school.

While the great sun's maturing gold
Pours on the sloping corn
In its profusion manifold
The fulness of life's horn.

Of God's blest Spirit o'er the heart
Not alien to His grace
These summer breezes play the part,
Quicken, but nought displace.

See how that bright-eyed bird alone
Revels in silence gay,
His songs all sung and love-tasks done
In summer's holiday.

He nods, he skips, like merry child
He clears the bordering green ;
Nor fawn nor pard in park or wild
Hath limbs so lithe and clean.

He works the work his Lord assigns,
Rejoicing as he goes,
His life between its narrow lines
With happy instinct flows.

He glads himself, he glads my sight ;
Oh, teacher true as small !
They trebly please who work aright, —
God, and themselves, and all.