Greenway’s Grotto

Introduction by Hester Thrale

I wrote the following Verses at Bath on Greenway’s Grotto where I used to bathe in the clearest Water sure one could find in England.

1.

Pellucid Stream, refreshing Pow’r!
      Whose liberal Current lends,
New Beauties to each vernal Flow’r
      That o’er the border bends.

2.

Pellucid Stream where still I lave,
      Delight and Health to find;
Give me to emulate thy wave,
      In Purity of Mind.

3.

Of all the Gifts which Heaven bestows,
      Beyond even King’s Controul;
Give me to crown my honest Vows
      Transparency of Soul.

4.

And as no foul or noisome Weed
      Pollutes thy silvery Source;
Let each ill governd Wish recede
      Nor stain my Fancy’s Course.

5.

While thoughts though in themselves but rude
      Securely there reside;
As Pebbles to Advantage view’d
      Thro’ thy translucent Tide.

6.

And so from dull Stagnation pure
      Thy Stream be guarded still;
So may nor Wind nor Rain obscure
      Thy lovely limpid Rill:

7.

As here recruited Strength I gain
      The Floods of Life to stem;
Keep keen my Sense of Joy and Pain
     Yet both for heaven contemn

Written by Hester Lynch Thrale.
Thraliana entry dated 28 June 1780. Hester Thrale's spelling, grammar and capitalisation, some of which may not conform to today's standards, are reproduced faithfully throughout.