From Frozen Climes and Endless Tracts of Snow,

From Streams that Northern Winds forbid to flow;

What Present Shall the Muse to Dorset bring;

Or how, so near the Pole, attempt to sing?

The hoary Winter here conceals from Sight

All pleasing Objects that to Verse invite.

The Hills and Vales, and the Delightful Woods,

The Flowry Plains, and Silver Streaming Floods,

By Snow disguis'd, in bright Confusion lye,

And with one dazling Waste fatigue the Eye.

The ruling Cold retards the coming Spring,

No Birds within the Desart Region sing.

The Ships unmov'd the boist'rous Winds defy,

While ratling Chariots o'er the Ocean fly.

The vast Leviathan wants Room to play,

And spout his Waters in the Face of Day.

The starving Wolves along the main Sea prowl,

And to the Moon in Icy Valleys howl.

For many a shining League the level Main,

Here spreads it self into a Glassy Plain:

And there the Frozen Billows of enormous Size,

Alpes of green Ice, in wild Disorder rise.

And yet but lately have I seen, e'en here,

The Winter in a lovely Dress appear. 

E'er yet the Clouds let fall the treasur'd Snow,

Or stormy Winds thick hazy Weather blow.

First, a keen Eastern Breeze at Ev'ning rose;

Then, the descending Rain unsullied froze.

Soon as the silent Shades of Night withdrew,

The ruddy Morn disclos'd at once to View

The Fall of Nature in a rich Disguise,

And brighten'd ev'ry Object to my Eyes.

For ev'ry Shrub, and ev'ry Blade of Grass

And ev'ry pointed Thorn, seem'd wrought in Glass.

In Pearls and Rubies rich the Hawthorns show,

While through the Ice the Crimson Berries glow.

The thick sprung Reeds the flabby Marbles yield,

Seem polish'd Lances in a hostile Field.

The Stag in limpid Currents with Surprize,

Sees Chrystal Branches on his Forehead rise.

The spreading Oak, the Beech, and tow'ring Pine,

Glaz'd over, in the freezing Æther shine.

The frighted Birds the ratling Branches shun,

That wave and glister[sic] in the distant Sun.

When if a sudden Gust of Wind arise,

The brittle Forest into Atoms flies:

A spangled Shower from every Tree descends,

And the bright Scene in costly Ruin ends.

Or if a Southern Gale the Region warm,

And by Degrees unbinds the Wintry Charm,

The traveller a miry Country sees,

And journeys sad beneath the dropping Trees.