among the Britons be confin'd;
A race of men from all the world disjoin'd.
O muft the wretched exiles ever mourn,
Nor after length of rolling years return?
Are we condemn'd by fate's unjust decree,
No more our houses and our homes to fee?
Or shall we mount again the rural throne,
And rule the country kingdoms, once our own!
Did we for these barbarians plant and fow,
On these, on these, our happy fields bestow?
Good heaven, what dire effects from civil discord flow!
Now let me graff my pears, and prune the vine; 100
The fruit is theirs, the labour only mine.
Farewel my paftures, my paternal stock ;
My fruitful fields, and my more fruitful flock!
No more, my goats, fhall I behold you
The steepy cliffs, or crop the flowery thyme!
No more extended in the grot
below,
Shall fee you browsing on the mountain's brow
The prickly shrubs; and after on the bare,
Lean down the deep abyss, and hang in air..
No more my sheep fhall fip the morning dew;
No more my fong shall please the rural crew :
Adieu, my tuneful pipe! and all the world adieu!
TIT. This night, at least, with me forget your care;
Chefnuts and curds and cream fhall be your
The carpet-ground shall be with leaves o'erfpread ; 115.
And boughs fhall weave a covering for your head..
For fee yon funny hill the shade extends :
And curling fmoke from cottages afcends.
The commentators can by no means agree on the perfon of Alexis, but are all of opinion that fome beautiful youth is meant by him, to whom Virgil here makes love in Corydon's language and fimplicity. His way of courtship is wholly pastoral: he complains of the boy's coynefs; recommends himself for his beauty and skill in piping; invites the youth into the country, where he promises him the diverfions of the place, with a fuitable prefent of nuts and apples but when he finds nothing will prevail, he refolves to quit his troublesome amour, and betake himself again to his former business.
YOUNG Corydon, th' unhappy fhepherd fwain,
The fair Alexis lov'd, but lov'd in vain :
And underneath the beechen fhade, alone,
Thus to the woods and mountains made his moan.
Is this, unkind Alexis, my reward,
And must I die unpitied, and unheard?
Now the green lizard in the grove is laid,
The sheep enjoy the coolness of the shade;
And Theftylis wild thyme and garlick beats
For harvest hinds, o'erfpent with toil and heats :
While in the fcorching fun I trace in vain
Thy flying footsteps o'er the burning plain,
The creaking locufts with my voice conspire,
They fry with heat, and I with fierce defire.
How much more eafy was it to fustain
Proud Amarillis and her haughty reign,
The fcorns of young Menalcas, once my care,
Though he was black, and thou art heavenly fair.
Truft not too much to that enchanting face ;
Beauty's a charm, but foon the charm will pass :
White lilies lie neglected on the plain,
While dusky hyacinths for use remain.
My paffion is thy fcorn: nor wilt thou know
What wealth I have, what gifts I can bestow :
What ftores my dairies and my folds contain ;
A thousand lambs that wander on the plain :
New milk that all the winter never fails,
And all the fummer overflows the pails :
Amphion fung not fweeter to his herd,
When fummon'd ftones the Theban turrets rear'd. 30 Nor am I fo deform'd; for late I ftood
Upon the margin of the briny flood:
The winds were still, and if the glass be true,
With Daphnis I may vie, though judg'd by you.
O leave the noisy town, O come and fee
Our country cotts, and live content with me !
To wound the flying deer, and from their cotes
With me to drive a-field the browzing goats:
To pipe and fing, and in our country strain
To copy, or perhaps contend with Pan.
Pan taught to join with wax, unequal reeds,
Pan loves the fhepherds, and their flocks he feeds:
Nor fcorn the pipe; Amyntas, to be taught,
With all his kiffes would my skill have bought.
Of seven smooth joints a mellow pipe I have,
Which with his dying breath Damætas gave :
And faid, This, Corydon, I leave to thee;.
For only thou deserv'st it after me.
His eyes Amyntas durft not upward lift,
For much he grudg'd the praise, but more the gift. 50
Befides two kids that in the valley stray'd,
I found by chance, and to my fold convey'd.
They drain two bagging udders every day;
And these shall be companions of thy play.
Both fleck'd with white, the true Arcadian ftrain, 55
Which Theftylis had often begg’d in vain :
And she shall have them, if again she sues,
Since you the giver and the gift refuse.
Come to my longing arms, my lovely care,
And take the presents which the nymphs prepare. 60
White lilies in full canisters they bring,
With all the glories of the purple spring..
The daughters of the flood have fearch'd the mead.
For violets pale, and cropp'd the poppies head;
The short narciffus, and fair daffodil,
Panfies to please the fight, and caffia sweet to smell;
And set soft hyacinths with iron-blue,
To shade marsh marigolds of shining hue.
Some bound in order, others loosely strow'd,
To dress thy bower, and trim thy new abode.
Myself will fearch our planted grounds at home,
For downy peaches and the gloffy plumb:
And thrash the chefnuts in the neighbouring grove,
Such as my Amarillis us'd to love.
The laurel and the myrtle fweets agree;
And both in nofegays shall be bound for thee.
Ah, Corydon, ah poor unhappy fwain,
Alexis will thy homely gifts difdain :
Nor, should'st thou offer all thy little store,
Will rich Iolus yield, but offer more:
What have I done to name that wealthy fwain,
So powerful are his presents, mine fo mean!
The boar amidst my crystal streams I bring;
And fouthern winds to blast my flowery spring.
Ah cruel creature, whom doft thou despise ?
The gods to live in woods have left the skies.
And godlike Paris in th' Idean grove,
To Priam's wealth preferr'd Oenone's love.
In cities which the built, let Pallas reign;
Towers are for gods, but forefts for the swain.
The greedy lionefs the wolf pursues,
The wolf the kid, the wanton kid the browse :
Alexis, thou art chas'd by Corydon ;
All follow feveral games, and each his own.
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