Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

Big fwell'd my heart, and own'd the powerful maid, When fast she dropt her tears, as thus fhe faid: "Farewell the youth whom fighs could not detain, "Whom Zara's breaking heart implor'd in vain! "Yet as thou go'ft, may every blast arise "Weak and unfelt as these rejected fighs!

"Safe o'er the wild, no perils may'ft thou fee,

"No griefs endure, nor weep, falfe youth, like me.” O let me fafely to the fair return,

Say with a kiss, fhe muft not, fhall not mourn;
O! let me teach my heart to lofe its fears,
Recall'd by Wisdom's voice, and Zara's tears.

He faid, and call'd on heaven to blefs the day, When back to Schiraz' walls he bent his way.

ECLOGUE

EC LOGUE III.

ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA.

SCENE, A FOREST.

TIME, THE EVENING.

IN Georgia's land, where Tefflis' towers are feen,

In diftant view along the level green,

While evening dews enrich the glittering glade,
And the tall forefts caft a longer shade,

What time 'tis fweet o'er fields of rice to stray,
Or fcent the breathing maize at setting day;
Amidft the maids of Zagen's peaceful grove,
Emyra fung the pleafing cares of love.

Of Abra firft began the tender ftrain,
Who led her youth with flocks upon the plain:
At morn she came those willing flocks to lead,
Where lillies rear them in the watery mead;
From early dawn the live-long hours she told,
'Till late at filent eve she penn'd the fold.

Deep

Deep in the grove, beneath the secret shade,
A various wreath of odorous flowers fhe made:
*Gay-motley'd pinks and sweet jonquils fhe chofe,
The violet blue that on the mofs-bank grows;
All-fweet to fenfe, the flaunting rofe was there:
The finish'd chaplet well-adorn'd her hair.

Great Abbas chanc'd that fated morn to stray,
By love conducted from the chace away;
Among the vocal vales he heard her fong,
And fought the vales and echoing groves among:
At length he found, and woo'd the rural maid;
She knew the monarch, and with fear obey'd.
"Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd,
"And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd !"

The royal lover bore her from the plain; Yet ftill her crook and bleating flock remain :

That these flowers are found in very great abundonce in fome of the provinces of Perfia; fee the modern hiftory of Mr. Salmon.

Oft

Oft as she went, fhe backward turn'd her view,
And bad that crook and bleating flock adieu.
Fair happy maid! to other scenes remove,
To richer fcenes of golden power and love!
Go leave the fimple pipe, and shepherd's strain ;
With love delight thee, and with Abbas reign.
"Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd,
"And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd!"

Yet midft the blaze of courts fhe fix'd her love
On the cool fountain, or the fhady grove;
Still with the fhepherd's innocence her mind
To the fweet vale, and flowery mead inclin'd;
And oft as fpring renew'd the plains with flowers,
Breath'd his foft gales, and led the fragrant hours,
With fure return fhe fought the fylvan scene,
The breezy mountains, and the forells green.
Her maids around her mov'd, a duteous band!
Each bore a crook all-rural in her hand:
Some fimple lay, of flocks and herds they fung;
With joy the mountain, and the foreft rung.

"Be

"Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd,

"And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd!"

And oft the royal lover left the care

And thorns of state, attendant on the fair;
Oft to the fhades and low-roof'd cots retir'd,

Or fought the vale where first his heart was fir'd :
A ruffet mantle, like a fwain, he wore,

And thought of crowns and bufy courts no more, "Be every youth like royal Abbas mov'd, "And every Georgian maid like Abra lov'd!"

Bleft was the life, that royal Abbas led :
Sweet was his love, and innocent his bed.
What if in wealth the noble maid excel;
The fimple fhepherd girl can love as well.
Let thofe who rule on Perfia's jewell'd throne,
Be fam'd for love, and gentleft love alone;
Or wreathe, like Abbas, full of fair renown,
The lover's myrtle with the warrior's crown.

« ПредишнаНапред »