TH HE weftern fky was purpled o'er And flocks reviving felt no more When from a hazel's artless bower Let fops with fickle falfhood range Whilft weeping maids lament their change, But endless bleffings crown the day I faw fair Efham's dale: And every blessing find its way To NANCY of the vale. 'Twas 'Twas from Avona's bank, the maid Diffus'd her lovely beams; And every fhining glance difplay'd The Naiad of the ftreams. Soft as the wild duck's tender young, Fresh as the bordering flowers, her bloom, Was never half fo blue. Her shape was like the reed, fo fleek, So taper, strait, and fair; Her dimpled fmile, her blufhing cheek, Far in the winding vale retir'd And shadowing rocks and woods confpir'd To fence her beauties round. That nature in fo lone a dell Gay lordlings fought her for their bride, "Tis STREPHON on the mountain's brow With him I'll climb the hill. Struck with her charms and gentle truth To her alone I give my youth, And when this vow fhall faithlefs prove, The ftream that faw our tender love, That ftream fhall ceafe to flow. SHENSTONE, Ο 'ER moorlandsand mountainsrudebarren and bare, As wilder'd and wearied I roam, A gentle young fhepherdefs fees my despair, And leads me o'er lawns to her home: Yellow fheaves from rich Ceres her cottage had crown'd, Green rushes were ftrew'd on the floor; Her casement sweet woodbines crept wantonly round, And deck'd the fod feats at her door. We fat ourselves down to a cooling repaft, I told my foft wishes, the fweetly replied I've rich ones rejected and great ones denied, Her air was fo modeft, her afpe&t fo meek, I kifs'd I kifs'd the ripe roses that glow'd on her cheek, Together we range o'er the flow rifing hills, Or reft on the rock whence the ftreamlet diftills, The cottager Peace is well known for her fire. CUNNINGHAM. A Paftoral BALLAD, in Four Parts. I. ABSENCE. E fhepherds fo chearful and gay, YE Whofe flocks never carelessly roam ; Should CORYDON's happen to stray, Oh! call the poor wanderers home. Allow |