Though never grass should cloath the naked ground, "Nor ever healing plant or wholfome herb be found. "None, none were found when I bewail'd their want; "Nor wholfome herb was found, nor healing plant, "To cafe Amyntas of his cruel pains, In vain I fearch'd the valleys, hills and plains; But wither'd leaves alone appear'd to view, "Or poisonous weeds diftilling deadly dew. "And if fome naked stalk, not quite decay'd, "To yield a fresh and friendly bud essay'd, "Soon as I reach'd to crop the tender fhoot, "A fhrieking mandrake kill'd it at the root. "Witness to this, ye fawns of every wood, "Who at the prodigy astonish'd ftood. "Well I remember what fad figns ye made, "What showers of unavailing tears ye fhed; "How each ran fearful to his moffy cave, "When the last gafp the dear Amyntas gave. "For then the air was fill'd with dreadful cries, "And fudden night o'erfpread the darken'd skies; "Phantoms, and fiends, and wandering fires appear'd, "And screams of ill-presaging birds were heard. "The foreft fhook, and flinty rocks were cleft, "And frighted ftreams their wonted channels left; "With frantic grief o'erflowing fruitful ground, "Where many a herd and harmless swain was drown'd; "While I forlorn and defolate was left, "Of every help, of every hope bereft "For thee, Amyntas, all these pains were borne, "For thee these hands were wrung, these hairs were torn; "For thee my foul to figh fhall never leave, "These eyes to weep, this throbbing heart to heave. "To mourn thy fall, I'll fly the hated light, "And hide my head in shades of endless night : "For thou wert light, and life, and health to me; "The fun but thanklefs fhines that fhews not thee. "Wert thou not lovely, graceful, good, and young? "The joy of fight, the talk of every tongue? "Did ever branch fo fweet a bloffom bear? "Or ever early fruit appear fo fair? "Did ever youth so far his years tranfcend? "Did ever life fo immaturely end? "For thee the tuneful fwains provided lays, "And every Mufe prepar'd thy future praise. "For thee the bufy nymph ftripp'd every grove, "And myrtle wreaths and flowery chaplets wove. "But now, ah dismal change! the tuneful throng "To loud lamentings turn the chearful fong. "Their pleafing task the weeping virgins leave, "And with unfinish'd garlands ftrew thy grave. "There let me fall, there, there lamenting lie, "There grieving grow to earth, despair, and die." This faid, her loud complaint of force the ceas'd, Excefs of grief her faultering fpeech fupprefs'd. Along the ground her colder limbs she laid, Where late the grave was for Amyntas made; Then from her fwimming eyes began to pour Of foftly-falling rain a filver fhower; Her loosely-flowing hair, all radiant bright, And now the winds, which had so long been still, Difmal to hear, and terrible to tell ; Nothing but groans and fighs were heard around, Of grief was made, as from fome fecret caufe. And now the turf, which late was naked feen, Thick as the pearly drops the fair had shed, And thence their fweetnefs came, and thence their mournful hue. Remember this, ye nymphs and gentle maids, To lov'd Amyntas pay the tribute due, TO CYNTHIA, WEEPING, AND NOT SPEAKING. E LE GY. HY are those hours, which Heaven in pity lent WHY To longing love, in fruitless forrow spent ? Divide thy woes, and give me my fad part. you Till warm Compaffion took at length my part, When your cold fcorn and frowns forbid the fire; } } When |