Here half conceal'd in trees a cottage ftands,
A castle there the op'ning plain commands,
Beyond, a town with glitt'ring fpires is crown'd,
And diftant hills the wide horizon bound:
So charming was the fcene, awhile the fwain
Beheld delighted, and forgot his pain;
But foon the ftings infix'd within his heart,
With cruel force renew'd their raging smart :
His flow'ry wreath, which long with pride he wore,
The gift of Delia, from his brows he tore :
Then cry'd; May all thy charms, ungrateful maid,
Like these neglected rofes droop and fade;
May angry heav'n deform each guilty grace,
That triumphs now in that deluding face ;
Those alter'd looks may ev'ry shepherd fly,
And ev❜n thy Daphnis hate thee worse than I.
Say, thou inconftant, what has Damon done,
To lose the heart his tedious pains had won ?
Tell me what charms you in my rival find,
Against whose pow'r no ties have strength to bind ?
Has he, like me, with long obedience strove
To conquer your disdain, and merit love?
Has he with transport ev'ry smile ador'd,
And dy'd with grief at each ungentle word?
Ah, no! the conquest was obtain❜d with ease:
He pleas'd you, by not studying to please :
His careless indolence your pride alarm'd;
And had he lov'd you more, he less had charm'd.
O pain to think, another fhall poffefs Those balmy lips which I was wont to press: Another on her panting breast shall lie,
And catch fweet madness from her fwimming eye!-
I faw their friendly flocks together feed,
I faw them hand in hand walk o'er the mead;
Wou'd clos'd
my
had funk in endless night,
Ere I was doom'd to bear that hateful sight!
Where-e'er they pafs'd, be blafted every flow'r,
And hungry wolves their helplefs flocks devour.-
Ah wretched fwain, could no examples move
Thy heedless heart to fhun the rage of love?
Haft thou not hear'd how poor * Menalcas dy'd
A victim to Parthenia's fatal pride?
Dear was the youth to all the tuneful plain,
Lov'd by the nymphs, by Phoebus lov'd in vain :
Around his tomb their tears the Muses paid,
And all things mourn'd but the relentless maid.
Wou'd I cou'd die like him and be at peace,
These torments in the quiet grave wou'd cease;
There my vex'd thoughts a calm repofe wou'd find,
And reft as if my Delia ftill were kind.
No, let me live her falfehood to upbraid;
Some god perhaps my just revenge will aid.
Alas what aid, fond fwain, would'ft thou receive?
Cou'd thy heart bear to see its Delia grieve?
Protect her, heav'n, and let her never know
The flighteft part of hapless Damon's woe:
I ask no vengeance from the pow'rs above;
All I implore is never more to love-
Let me this fondness from my bofom tear,
Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair.
Come, cool Indifference, and heal my breast;
Wearied, at length, I feek thy downy reft:
No turbulence of paffion fhall destroy
My future ease with flatt'ring hopes of joy.
Hear, mighty Pan, and all ye Sylvans hear,
What by your guardian deities I swear ;
No more my eyes fhall view her fatal charms,
No more I'll court the trait'refs to my arms;
Not all her arts my steady soul shall move,
And the fhall find that Reason conquers Love.-
Scarce had he spoke, when through the lawn below Alone he faw the beauteous Delia go;
At once transported he forgot his vow,
(Such perjuries the laughing gods allow)
Down the steep hills with ardent haste he flew;
He found her kind, and foon believ'd her true.
JOBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,
Whofe guiding judgment gives me skill to fing;
Though far unequal to those polish'd strains,
With which thy Congreve charm'd the lift'ning plains,
Yet shall its mufick please thy partial ear,
And footh thy breast with thoughts that once were dear;
Recall thofe years which time has thrown behind,
When fmiling Love with Honour shar'd thy mind:
The sweet remembrance fhall thy youth restore,
Fancy again fhall run past pleasures o'er,
And while in Stowe's enchanting walks you stray,
This theme may help to cheat the summer's day.
Beneath the covert of a myrtle wood,
To Venus rais'd a rustick altar ftood,
To Venus and to Hymen, there combin❜d,
In friendly league to favour humankind.
With wanton Cupids in that happy fhade,
The gentle Virtues, and mild Wisdom play'd.
Nor there in fprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk'd fick Difguft, or late repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Int'reft, join'd unwilling hands,
But Love confenting ty'd the blissful bands.
Thither with glad devotion Damon came,
To thank the pow'rs who blefs'd his faithful flame;
Two milk-white doves he on their altar laid,
And thus to both his grateful homage paid:
Hail, bounteous god, before whofe hallow'd shrine
My Delia vow'd to be for ever mine,
While glowing in her cheeks, with tender love,
Sweet virgin modefty reluctant ftrove :
And hail to thee, fair queen of young defires,
Long shall my heart preferve thy pleafing fires,
Since Delia now can all its warmth return,
As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn.
O the dear gloom of last propitious night!
O fhade more charming than the fairest light!
Then in my arms I clafp'd the melting maid,
Then all my pains one moment overpaid;
Then firft the fweet excefs of blifs I prov'd,
Which none can tafte but who like me have lov'd.
Thou too, bright goddess, once in Ida's grove,
Didst not disdain to meet a fhepherd's love,
With him while frifking lambs around you play'd,
Conceal'd you fported in the fecret shade;
Scarce cou'd Anchifes' raptures equal mine,
And Delia's beauties only yield to thine.
What are you now, my once moft valu'd joys
Infipid trifles all, and childish toys-
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