Or wherefore think the flowery mountain's fide, The fountain's murmurs, and the valley's pride, Why think we thefe lefs pleafing to be hold, Than dreary deserts, if they lead to gold ? But, however just these sentiments may appear to those who have not revolted from nature and fimplicity, had the author proclaimed them in Lombard-ftreet, or Cheapfide, he would not have been complimented with the understanding of the bellman.-A ftriking proof, that our own particular ideas of happinefs regulate our opinions concerning the fenfe and wisdom of others! It is impoffible to take leave of this most beautiful eclogue without paying the tribute of of admiration fo juftly due to the following nervous lines, What if the lion in his rage I meet !- Yields her pale empire to the mourner night, By hunger tous'd, he fcours the groaning plain, Gaunt wolves and fullen tygers in his train : Before them death with fhrieks directs their way, Fills the wild yell, and leads them to their prey. This, amongst many other paffages to be met with in the writings of COLLINS, fhews that his his genius was perfectly capable of the grand and magnificent in defcription, notwithstanding what a learned writer has advanced to the contrary. Nothing, certainly, could be more greatly conceived, or more adequately expreffed than the image in the last couplet. THAT deception, fometimes used in rhetoric and poetry, which prefents us with an object, or sentiment contrary to what we expected, is here introduced to the greatest advantage: Farewell the youth, whom fighs could not detain, Whom Zara's breaking heart implor'd in Yet as thou go'ft, may every blast arise- But this, perhaps, is rather an artificial prettynefs, than a real, or natural beauty. ECLOGUE ECLOGUE III. HAT innocence, and native fimplicity TH of manners, which, in the first eclogue, was allowed to conftitute the happiness of love, is here beautifully defcribed in its effects. The fultan of Perfia marries a Georgian shepherdess, and finds in her embraces that genuine felicity which unperverted nature alone can beftow. The moft natural and beautiful parts of this eclogue are thofe where the fair fultana refers with fo much pleasure to her paftoral amusements, and thofe fcenes of happy innocence in which she had paffed her early years; particularly when, upon her first departure, Oft as fhe went, fhe backward turn'd her view, And bad that crook and bleating flock adieu.. 2 This This picture of amiable fimplicity reminds one of that paffage, where Proferpine, when carried off by Pluto, regrets the loss of the flowers fhe had been gathering. Collecti flores tunicis cecidere remiffis : ECLOGUE |