"This is no vulgar scene: no palace roof "Was e'er fo lofty, nor fo nobly rise "Their polifh'd pillars, as these aged oaks, "Which o'er our fleecy wealth and harmless sports "Thus have expanded wide their shelt'ring arms, "Thrice told an hundred fummers. Sweet content, "Ye gentle shepherds, pillow us at night."

"Yes, tuneful DAMON, for our cares are fhort, "Rifing and falling with the chearful day," COLIN reply'd," and pleasing weariness "Soon our unaching heads to fleep inclines. "Is it in cities fo? where, poets tell, "The cries of forrow fadden all the streets, "And the diseases of intemp'rate wealth. "Alas, that any ills from wealth should rife! "May the sweet nightingale on yonder spray, "May this clear ftream, these lawns, thofe fnow"white lambs,

"Which, with a pretty innocence of look,

"Skip on the

green,

and race in little troops;

"May that great lamp, which finks behind thehills,

"And ftreams around variety of lights,

F

"Recall

"Recall them erring: This is DAMON'S wish.

"Huge Breaden's' ftony fummit once I climb'd "After a kiddling: DAMON, what a scene! "What various views unnumber'd spread beneath! "Woods,tow'rs,vales, caves,dells, cliffs,& torrent [floods; "And here & there,between the spiry rocks," "The broad flat fea. Far nobler prospect these, "Than gardens black with smoke in dufty towns, "Where ftenchy vapours often blot the fun : "Yet flying from his quiet, thither crowds "Each greedy wretch for tardy-rising wealth, "Which comes too late; that courts the tafte in vain, "Or nauseates with distempers. Yes, ye rich, "Still, ftill be rich, if thus ye fashion life; "And piping, careless filly fhepherds we, "We filly fhepherds, all intent to feed "Our fnowy flocks, and wind the fleeky fleece."

"Deem not, howe'er, our occupation mean," DAMON reply'd," while the SUPREME accounts "Well of the faithful fhepherd, rank'd alike "With king and priest: they also shepherds are;

* Breaden, a bill on the borders of Montgomeryfbire.

"For

"For fo th' All-feeing ftiles them, to remind "Elated man, forgetful of his charge."

"But hafte, begin the rites: fee purple Eve

"Stretches her fhadows: all ye nymphs and swains "Hither affemble. Pleas'd with honours due, "SABRINA, guardian of the crystal flood, "Shall bless our cares, when the by moonlight clear "Skims o'er the dales, and eyes our fleeping folds: "Or in hoar caves, around Plynlymmon's brow, "Where precious min'rals dart their purple gleams, 66 Among her fifters fhe reclines; the lov'd "Vaga, profufe of graces, Ryddol rough, "Blithe Yftwith ', and Clevedoc swift of foot; "And mingles various feeds of flow'rs, and herbs "In the divided torrents, ere they burst

"Thro' the dark clouds, & down the mountain roll. "Nor taint-worm shall infect the yeaning herds,

66

Nor penny-grafs, nor fpearwort's pois'nous leaf."

He faid with light fantastic toe, the nymphs Thither affembled, thither ev'ry swain ;

t

Vaga, Ryddol, Yftwith, and Clevedoc, rivers, the Springs of which rife in the fides of Plynlymmon.

F 2

And

And o'er the dimpled ftream a thousand flow'rs,
Pale lilies, rofes, violets, and pinks,
Mix'd with the greens of burnet, mint, and thyme,
And trefoil, fprinkled with their sportive arms.

Such custom holds along th' irriguous vales,
From Wreakin's brow to rocky Dolvoryn ",
Sabrina's early haunt, ere yet she fled
The fearch of Guendolen, her stepdame proud,
With envious hate enrag d. The jolly chear,
Spread on a moffy bank, untouch'd abides,
Till cease the rites: and now the moffy bank
Is gayly circled, and the jolly chear
Difpers'd in copious measure; early fruits,
And those of frugal store, in husk or rind
Steep'd grain, and curdled milk with dulcet cream
Soft temper'd, in full merriment they quaff,
And caft about their gibes; and some apace
Whistle to roundelays: their little ones
Look on delighted: while the mountain-woods,
And winding vallies, with the various notes

u

;

Dolvoryn, a ruinous cafile in Montgomeryshire, on the banks of the Severn.

Of

Of pipe, sheep, kine, and birds, and liquid brooks, Unite their echoes: near at hand the wide

Majestic wave of Severn flowly rolls

Along the deep-divided glebe: the flood,
And trading bark with low contracted fail,
Linger among the reeds and copfy banks
To liften; and to view the joyous scene.