DAMON.

Then fing by turns, by turns the Muses sing, Now hawthorns bloffom, now the daifies spring, Now leaves the trees, and flowers adorn the ground; Begin, the vales fhail every note rebound.

STREPHON.

Infpire me, Phœbus, in my Delia's praise,
With Waller's ftrains, or Granville's moving lays!
A milk-white bull fhall at your altars stand,
That threats a fight, and spurns the rising fand.

DAPHNIS.

O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize,
And make my tongue victorious as her eyes;
No lambs or theep for victims I'll impart,
Thy victim, Love, fhall be the fhepherd's heart.

STREP HON.

Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in shades, eludes her eager fwain; But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, And by that laugh the willing fair is found.

DAPHNIS.

The fprightly Sylvia trips along the green,
She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen;
While a kind glance at her purfuer flies,
How much at variance are her feet and eyes!

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 49. Originally thus in the MS.

Pan, let my numbers equal Strephon's lays,
Of Parian ftone thy ftatue will I raife;
But if I conquer and augment my fold,
Thy Parian itatue fhall be chang'd to gold.

45

55

f

60

STRE

STREP HON.

O'er golden fands let rich Pactolus flow,
And trees weep amber on the banks of Po;
Bleft Thames's fhores the brightest beauties yield,
Feed here my lambs, I'll feek no distant field.

DAPHNIS.

Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves;
Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves :

If Windsor shades delight the matchless maid,
Cynthus and Hybla yield to Windsor-shade.

STREPHON.

All nature mourns,

the skies relent in showers,

Hush'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flowers; If Delia fmile, the flowers begin to fpring,

The skies to brighten, and the birds to fing.

65

71

VARIATIONS.

DAPH

Ver. 61. It stood thus at firft:

Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boaft,
Her purple wool the proud Affyrian coast,
Bleft Thames's fhores, &c.

Ver. 61. Originally thus in the MS.

Go, flowery wreath, and let my Sylvia know,
Compar'd to thine how bright her beauties fhow
Then die; and dying, teach the lovely maid
How foon the brightest beauties are decay'd.

DAPHNIS.

Go, tuneful bird, that pleas'd the woods fo long,
Of Amaryllis learn a fweeter fong:

To Heav'n arifing then her notes convey,
For Heav'n alone is worthy fuch a lay.

DAPHNIS.

All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair,
The fun's mild luftre warms the vital air;

If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore,
And vanquish'd nature seems to charm no more.

STREPHON.

In fpring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, But Delia always; absent from her fight,

Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight.

DAPHNIS.

Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May,
More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day;
E'en spring displeases, when the shines not here;
But, blefs'd with her, 'tis fpring throughout the year.

STREPHON.

Say, Daphnis, fay, in what glad foil appears, A wondrous Tree that facred Monarchs bears: Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conqueft to thy Sylvia's eyes.

DAPHNIS.

Nay, tell me firft, in what more happy fields The Thistle springs, to which the Lily yields:

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 69. &c. Thefe verfes were thus at firft:
All nature mourns, the birds their fongs deny,
Nor wasted brooks the thirty flowers fupply;
If Delia fmile, the flowers begin to fpring,
The brooks to murmur, and the birds to fing.

And then a nobler prize I will refign;

For Sylvia, charming Sylvia, shall be thine.

DAMON.

Ceafe to contend; for, Daphnis, I decree,

The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee.
Bleft Swains, whofe Nymphs in every grace excell; 95
Bleft Nymphs, whofe Swains thofe graces fing so well!
Now rife, and haste to yonder woodbine bowers,
A foft retreat from fudden vernal showers;
The turf with rural dainties fhall be crown'd,
While opening blooms diffuse their sweets around.
For fee! the gathering flocks to shelter tend,
And from the Pleiads fruitful fhowers defcend.

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 99. was originally,

The turf with country dainties fhall be spread,
And trees with twining branches shade your head.

100

And Jove coniem.

Accept, O Garth, tie with

Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4 were thus primer at a va A faithful fwain, whom Low her laug Bewail'd his fat belt i vet ipuine

Where gentle Trames 14 vintng wat water Thro' verdant forents, and tinc Lowery sud..

Ver. 3. Originally thus in the MS.

There to the winds he plaind his hapiefs love,
And Amaryllis fill'd the vocal grove.