Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

"I beg you, recommend my faithful flame,
"And let her often hear her fhepherd's name:
"Shade all my faults from her enquiring fight,.
"And fhew my merits in the fairest light;

[ocr errors]

My pipe your kind assistance shall repay, "And every friend shall claim a different lay.. "But fee! in yonder glade the heavenly fair "Enjoys the fragrance of the breezy air"Ah, thither let me fly with eager feet;. "Adieu, my pipe; I go my love to meet "O, may I find her as we parted last, "And may each future hour be like the paft! "So fhall the whiteft lamb these pastures feed, "Propitious Venus, on thy altars bleed."'

JEALOUSY ECLOGUE III..

ΤΗ

To Mr. EDWARD WALPOLE.

HE gods, O Walpole, give no bliss fincere;
Wealth is disturb'd by care, and power by fear,

Of all the paffions that employ the mind,

In gentle Love the sweetest joys we find;
Yet ev❜n those joys dire Jealousy molests,
And blackens each fair image in our breasts.
O
may the warmth of thy too tender heart
Ne'er feel the sharpness of his venom'd dart!
For thy own quiet, think thy mistress juft,
And wifely take thy happiness on trust.

Begin, my Muse, and Damon's woes rehearse, In wildest numbers and disorder'd verse.

On a romantic mountain's, airy head (While browzing goats at ease around him fed) Anxious he lay, with jealous cares opprest; Diftrust and anger labouring in his breast The vale beneath a pleasing prospect yields Of verdant meads and cultivated fields; Through these a river rolls its winding flood, Adorn d with various tufts of rising wood; Here half conceal'd in trees a cottage stands, A castle there the opening plain commands; Beyond, a town with glittering spires is crown'dg. And diftant hills the wide horizon bound : So charming was the scene, a while the fwain Beheld delighted, and forgot his pain ;. But foon the strings infix'd within his heart With cruel force renew'd their raging smart : His flowery wreath, which long with pride he wore, The gift of Delia, from his brows he tore, Then cried, “ May all thy charms, ungrateful maid, “ Like these neglected roses, droop and fade ! “ May angry heaven deform each guilty grace, “ That triumphs now in that deluding face! " Those alter'd looks may every shepherd fly, “ And ev’n thy Daphnis hate thee.worse than I!

“ Say, thou inconstant, what has Damon doney “ To lose the heart his tedious pains had won?, ! Tell me what charms you in my rival find, • Against whose power no ties have strength to bind ?

« Has

13: LYT TÉ ĽTON'S POEM S..

Has hê, like me, with long obedience strove To conquer your disdain, and merit love ? “ Has he with transport every fmile ador'd, “ And died with grief at each ungentle word ? “ Ah, no! the conquest was obtaind with ease;, “ He pleas’d you, by not studying to please : W. His careless indolence your pride alarm’d; And, had he lov'd you more, he lefs had charm'de

“ O pain to think! another shall poffefs « Those balmy lips which I was wont to press: Another on her panting breast shall lie, « And catch fweet madness from her swimming eye.!. " I saw their friendly flocks together feed, " I saw them hand in hand walk o'er the mead: « Would

my
clos'd

eye

had sunk in endless night, “ Ere I was doom'd to bear that hateful sight! “ Where-e'er they pass’d, be blasted every flower, « And hungry wolves their helpless flocks devour ! « Ah wretched fwain, could no examples move “ Thy heedlefs heart to fhun the rage of love ? Haft thou not heard how poor * Menalcas died “ 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 : 6. Around his tomb their tears the Muses paid; “ And all things mourn’d, but the relentless maid. “ Would I could die like him, and be at peace? “ These torments in the quiet grave would cease;

" I here See Mr. Gay's Dione.

*

* There

my vex'd thoughts a calm repose would find, “ And rest, as if my Delia still were kind. * No, let me live, her falsehood to upbraid : “ Some gods perhaps my just revenge will aid. * Alas! what aid, fond swain, wouldi thou receive ? “ Could thy heart bear to see its Delia grieve? « Protect her, heaven! and let her never know “ The slightest part of hapless Damon's woe: “ I ask no vengeance from the powers above; “ All I implore is never more to love.

Let me this fondness from my bosom tear, « Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair. “ Come, cool Indifference, and heal my breat; « Wearied, at length, I seek thy downy rest: “ No turbulence of passion shall destroy “ My future ease with flattering hopes of joy. “ Hear, mighty Pan, and, all ye fylvans, hear " What by your guardian deities I swear; * No more my eyes shall view her fatal charms, “ No more I'll court the traitoress to my arms ; * Not all her arts my steady soul shall move, « And she shall find that reason conquers love !" Scarce had he spoke, when through the lawn below Alone he saw 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 soon believ'd her true.

[ocr errors]

POS

POSSESSION. ECLOGUE IV.

TO LORD CO-BH A M.

[ocr errors]

OBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,

Whose guiding judgment gives me skill to sing ;
Though far unequal to those polith'd strains,
With which thy Congreve charm'd the listening plains :
'Yet Mall its music please thy partial ear,
And sooth thy breast with thoughts that once were dear;
Recal those years which time has thrown behind,
When siniling Love with Honour shar'd thy mind;
When all thy glorious days of prosperous fight
Delighted less than one successful night,
The sweet remembrance shall thy youth restore,
Fancy again shall 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 rustic altar stood,
To Venus and to Hymen, there combin’d,
In friendly league, to favour human-kind.
With wanton Cupids, 'in that happy shade,
The gentle Virtues and mild Wisdom play'd.
Nor there, in sprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk’d fick Disgust, or late-repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Interest, join'd unwilling hands,
Love consenting tied the blissful bands,

Thithes,

« ПредишнаНапред »