Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Come thou, whofe thoughts as limpid springs are

To lead the train, fweet modefty appear:

Here make thy court amidst our rural scene,

[clear,

And fhepherd-girls fhall own thee for their queen.
With thee be Chastity, of all afraid,

Diftrufting all, a wife fufpicious maid;

But man the moft-not more the mountain doe

Holds the swift falcon for her deadly foe.

Cold is her breast, like flowers that drink the dew

A filken veil conceals her from the view.

No wild defires amidst thy train be known,

But Faith, whofe heart is fix'd on one alone :
Defponding Meekness, with her down-cast eyes,
And friendly Pity, full of tender fighs;

And Love the laft: by these your hearts approve,
These are the virtues that must lead to love.

Thus fung the fwain; and ancient legends fay
The maids of Bagdat verified the lay :
Dear to the plains, the Virtues came along,

The fhepherds lov'd, and Selim blefs'd his fong.

ECLOGUE

ECLOGUE II.

HASSAN; OR, THE CAMEL-DRIVER.

SCENE, THE DESERT.

TIME, MID-DAY.

'N filent horror o'er the boundless waste

IN

The driver Haffan with his camels past : One cruise of water on his back he bore, And his light fcrip contain'd a scanty store; A fan of painted feathers in his hand, To guard his fhaded face from fcorching fand. The fultry fun had gain'd the middle sky, And not a tree, and not an herb was nigh; The beafts, with pain, their dufty way pursue, Shrill roar'd the winds, and dreary was the view! With defperate forrow wild, th' affrighted man Thrice figh'd, thrice ftruck his breaft, and thus be"Sad was the hour, and lucklefs was the day, [gan: "When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!"

[blocks in formation]

Ah! little thought I of the blafting wind, The thirst or pinching hunger that I find! Bethink thee, Haffan, where fhall Thirft affwage, When fails this cruise, his unrelenting rage? Soon fhall this fcrip its precious load refign; Then what but tears and hunger shall be thine?

Ye mute companions of my toils, that bear In all my griefs a more than equal share! Here, where no fprings in murmurs break away, Or mofs-crown'd fountains mitigate the day, In vain ye hope the green delights to know, Which plains more bleft, or verdant vales bestow: Here rocks alone, and tafteless fands are found, And faint and fickly winds for ever howl around. "Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, "When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!

Curft be the gold and filver which perfuade Weak men to follow far-fatiguing trade!

The

The lilly peace outshines the filver store,
And life is dearer than the golden ore :
Yet money tempts us o'er the defert brown,
To every distant mart and wealthy town.
Full oft we tempt the land, and oft the sea :
And are we only yet repay'd by thee?
Ah! why was ruin so attractive made,

Or why fond man fo eafily betray'd?
Why heed we not, while mad we haste along,
The gentle voice of peace, or pleasure's song?
Or wherefore think the flowery mountain's fide,
The fountain's murmurs, and the valley's pride,
Why think we thefe lefs pleafing to behold,
Than dreary deserts, if they lead to gold?
"Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day,
"When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!"

O cease, my fears!—all frantic as I go,
When thought creates unnumber'd scenes of woe,
What if the lion in his rage I meet !—

Oft in the duft I view his printed feet:

And

And fearful! oft, when day's declining light
Yields her pale empire to the mourner night,
By hunger rous'd, he scours 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.
"Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day,
"When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!

At that dead hour the filent afp shall creep,
If aught of rest I find, upon my fleep:
Or fome fwoln ferpent twift his fcales around,
And wake to anguish with a burning wound.
Thrice happy they, the wife contented poor,
From luft of wealth, and dread of death fecure!
They tempt no deferts, and no griefs they find;
Peace rules the day, where reafon rules the mind.
"Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day,
"When firft from Schiraz' walls I bent my way

O hapless youth! for fhe thy love hath won,

The tender Zara will be most undone !

Big

« ПредишнаНапред »