ARGUMEN T.

The Nymphs who prefide over fprings and rivulets are addreffed at day-break in honour of their feveral functions, and of the relations which they bear to the natural and to the moral world. Their origin is deduced from the firft allegorical deities, or powers of nature; according to the doctrine of the old mythological poets, concerning the generation of the Gods and the rife of things. They are then fucceffively confidered, as giving motion to the air and exciting fummer-breezes; as nourishing and beautifying the vegetable world; as contributing to the fulnefs of navigable rivers, and confequently to the maintenance of commerce; and by that means, to the maritime part of military power. Next is reprefented their favourable influence upon health, when affifted by rural exercife: which introduces their connection with the art of phyfic, and the happy effects of mineral, medicinal Springs. Laftly, they are celebrated for the friendship which the Mufes bear them, and for the true infpiration which temperance only can receive: in oppofition to the enthufiafm of the more licentious poets.

H

YMN

TO THE

NAI A D S.

Ο

'ER yonder eaftern hill the twilight throws

Her dufky mantle; and the God of day,

With bright Aftræa feated by his fide,
Waits yet to leave the ocean. Tarry, Nymphs,
Ye Nymphs, ye blue-ey'd progeny of Thames,
Who now the mazes of this rugged heath

Trace with your fleeting steps; who all night long

Repeat, amid the cool and tranquil air,
Your lonely murmurs, tarry and receive
My offer'd lay. To pay you homage due,
I leave the gates of fleep; nor fhall my lyre
Too far into the fplendid hours of morn
Ingage your audience: my obfervant hand
Shall close the strain ere any fultry beam
Approach you. To your fubterranean haunts
Ye then may timely fteal; to pace with care
The humid fands; to loofen from the foil
The bubbling fources; to direct the rills
To meet in wider channels; or beneath
Some grotto's dripping arch, at height of noon
To flumber, shelter'd from the burning heaven.
Where shall my song begin, ye Nymphs? or end?
Wide is your praise and copious-First of things,
First of the lonely powers, ere Time arose,

Were Love and Chaos. Love, the fire of Fate;
Elder than Chaos. Born of Fate was Time,
Who many fons and many comely births
Devour'd, relentless father: 'till the child-
Of Rhea drove him from the upper fky,
And quell'd his deadly might. Then focial reign'd
The kindred powers, Tethys, and reverend Ops,

And