16. 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, wouldst thou receive? “ Could, thy heart bear to fee 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 breast; “ Wearied, at length, I seek thy downy reft: “ No turbulence of paffion 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 traitorefs to my arms; .6 Not all her arts my steady foul fall move, " And she shall find that reason

conquers

love !" Scarce had he spoke, when through the lawn below Alone he faw the beauteous Delia go; At once tranfported, he forgot his vow, (Such perjuries the laughing gods allow!) Down the steep hills with ardent halte he flew; He found her kind, and foon believ'd her true.

POS

POSSESSION, ECLOGUE IV.

ECLOGUE

TO LORD COBH A M.

C

OBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,

Whose guiding judgment gives me skill to fing;
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 footh thy breast with thoughts that once were dear;
Recal those years which time has thrown behind,
When smiling Love with Honour shar’d thy mind :
When all thy glorious days of profperous fight
Delighted less than one successful night.
The sweet remembrance Mall 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 fprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk'd fick Disgust, or late-repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Interest, join'd unwilling hands,
But Love consenting tied the blissful bands,

Thither, of young

Thither, with glad devotion, Damon came, To thank the powers who bless’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 whose hallow'd frine “ My Delia vow'd to for ever mine, " While, glowing in her cheeks, with tender love, ** Sweet virgin modesty reluctant strove ! “ And hail to thee, fair

queen

desires ! “ Long shall-my heart preserve thy pleafing fires, “ Since Delia now can all its warmth return, "As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn.

- O the dear bloom of last propitious night! “O shade more charming than the faireft light! “ Then in my arms I clafp'd the melting maid, “ Then all my pains one moment overpaid; “ Then first the sweet excess of bliss I prov’d, ." Which none can taste but who like me have lov'd. " Thou too, bright goddess, once, in Ida's grove, “ Didít not disdain to meet a shepherd's love; “With him, while frisking lambs around you play'd,

Conceal'd you sported in the secret shade : " Scarce could Anchises’ raptures equal mine, *** And Delia's beauties only yield to thine.

" What are ye now, my once most valued joys ? "Insipid trifles all, and childish toys

Friendship itself ne'er knew a charm like this, " Nor Colin's talk could please like Delia's kiss.

“ Ye Muses, skill'd in every winning art, “ Teach me more deeply to engage her heart;

06

1

6. Ye nymphs, to her your freshest roses bring,
6. And crown her with the pride of all the fpring :
66 On all her days let health and peace attend;
6. May she ne'er want, nor ever lose, a friend !

May some new pleafure every hour employ:
16. But let her Damon be her highest joy!
.

“ With thee, my love, for ever will I stay,
-- All night caress thee, and admire all day;
-66 In the same field our mingled flocks we 'll feed,
" To the same spring our thirsty heifers lead,
.66 Together will we fhare the harvest toils,

“ Together press the vine’s autumnal. fpoils. ..66 Delightful state, where Peace and Love combine, ... To bid our tranquil days unclouded shine!

Here limpid fountains roll through flowery meads, 66 Here rising forests lift their verdant heads; .:66 Here let me wear my careless life away, 66 And in thy arms insensibly decay.

“ When late old age our heads shall.silver o’er, « And our-flow pulses dance with joy no more; * When Time no longer will thy beauties spare, 166 And only Damon's eye shall think thee fair; “ Then may the gentle hand of welcome Death, “ At one soft stroke, deprive us both of breath! « May we beneath one common stone be laid, "". And the same cypress both our alhes shade! “ Perhaps some friendly Muse, in tender verfe, “ Shall deign our faithful passion to rehearse, " And future ages, with just envy mov’d, Be told how Damon and his Delia lov’d."

SOLILOQUY OF A BEAUTY !

A
IN THE COUNTRY.

Written at EATON SCHOOL.

'T * WAS night; and Flavia to her room retird,

With evening chat and sober reading tir’d;
There, melancholy, penfive, and alone,
She meditates on the forsaken town:
On her rais'd arm reclin’d her drooping head,
She figh’d, and thus in plaintive accents said:

" Ah, what avails it to be young and fair; " To move with negligence, to dress with care ? “ What worth have all the charms our pride can boat, " If all in envious folitude are lost? “ Where none admire, 'tis useless to excell; " Where none are beaux, 'tis vain to be a belle :

Beauty, like wit, to judges should be hown ; " Both most are valued, where they best are known. " With every grace of nature or of art,

: “We cannot break one stubborn country heart : « The brutes, insensible, our power defy: “ To love, exceeds a 'squire's capacity. “ The town, the court, is Beauty's proper sphere; " That is our Heaven, and we are angels there : “ In that gay circle thousand Cupids rove,

The court of Britain is the court of Love. “ How has my conscious heart with triumph glow'd, “ How have my sparkling eyes their transport shew'd, с

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