ELEGIES.

ELE GY I.

He arrives at his retirement in the country, and takes occafion to expatiate in praise of fimplicity. To a FRIEND.

OR rural virtues, and for native skies,

Fo

I bade Augusta's venal fons farewell; Now 'mid the trees, I fee my fmoke arife;

Now hear the fountains bubbling round

O may that genius, which fecures my rest,
Preferve this villa for a friend that 's dear!
Ne'er may my vintage glad the fordid breast;
Ne'er tinge the lip that dares be unfincere!
Far from these paths, ye faithless friends, depart!
Fly my plain board, abhor my hoftile name!
Hence the faint verse that flows not from the heart,
But mourns in labour'd strains, the price of fame !
O lov'd fimplicity, be thine the prize!

Affiduous art correct her page in vain!
His be the palm who, guiltlefs of disguise,
Contemns the power, the dull resource to feign!
Still may the mourner, lavish of his tears

For lucre's venal meed, invite my scorn!
Still may the bard diffembling doubts and fears,
For praife, for flattery fighing, sigh forlorn!

Soft

H

1

ELEGIES.

EL EGY I.

He arrives at his retirement in the country, and takes occafion to expatiate in praife of fimplicity. To a FRIEND.

OR rural virtues, and for native skies,

FOR

I bade Augufta's venal fons farewell; Now 'mid the trees, I fee my fmoke arife; Now hear the fountains bubbling round my cell. O may that genius, which fecures my rest, Preferve this villa for a friend that 's dear! Ne'er may my vintage glad the fordid breast; Ne'er tinge the lip that dares be unfincere! Far from thefe paths, ye faithlefs friends, depart! Fly my plain board, abhor my hoftile name! Hence the faint verfe that flows not from the heart, But mourns in labour'd trains, the price of fame! O lov'd fimplicity, be thine the prize!

Afliduous art correct her page in vain!
Ilis be the palm who, guiltlefs of difguife,
Contemns the power, the dull refource to feign!
Still may the mourner, lavish of his tears

For lucre's venal meed, invite my fcorn!
Still may the bard diffembling doubts and fears,
For praife, for flattery fighing, figh forlorn!

Soft

Soft as the line of love-fick Hammond flows,
'Twas his fond heart effus'd the melting theme;
Ah! never could Aonia's hill difclofe

So fair a fountain, or fo lov'd a stream.
Ye loveless bards! intent with artful pains
To form a figh, or to contrive a tear!
Forego your Pindus, and on- plains
Survey Camilla's charms, and grow fincere.
But thou, my friend! while in thy youthful foul
Love's gentle tyrant feats his aweful throne,
Write from thy bofom-let not art controul

The ready pen, that makes his edicts known.
Pleafing, when youth is long expir'd, to trace,

The forms our pencil, or our pen defign'd! "Such was our youthful air, and shape, and face! "Such the foft image of our youthful mind! Soft whilft we fleep beneath the rural bowers, The Loves and Graces fteal unfeen away; And where the turf diffus'd its pomp of flowers, We wake to wintry fcenes of chill decay!

Curfe the fad fortune that detains thy fair;

Praise the foft hours that gave thee to her arms; Paint thy proud fcorn of every vulgar care,

When Hope exalts thee, or when Doubt alarms. Where with Oenone thou haft worn the day, Near fount or ftream, in meditation, rove;

If in the grove Oenone lov'd to stray,

The faithful Mufe fhall meet thee in the grove.

ELEGY

ELEGY II.

On pofthumous reputation. To a FRIEND.

GRIEF of griefs! that envy's frantic ire

Should rob the living virtue of its praife; O foolish Mufes that with zeal infpire

To deck the cold infenfate fhrine with bays! When the free spirit quits her humble frame, To tread the fkies with radiant garlands crown'd, Say, will the hear the diftant voice of fame? Or, hearing, fancy fweetnefs in the found? Perhaps ev'n genius pours a flighted lay; Perhaps ev'n friendship sheds a fruitless tear ; Ev'n Lyttelton but vainly trims the bay,

And fondly graces Hammond's mournful bier Though weeping virgins haunt his favour'd urn, Renew their chaplets, and repeat their fighs; Though near his tomb, Sabæan odours burn, The loitering fragrance will it reach the skies? No, fhould his Delia votive wreaths prepare, Delia might place the votive wreaths in vain : Yet the dear hope of Delia's future care

Once crown'd his pleafures, and difpell'd his pain. Yes-the fair profpect of furviving praise Can every fenfe of present joys excel: For this, great Hadrian chofe laborious days; Through this, expiring, bade a gay farewel.

Shall