Now fleeping flocks on their soft fleeces lie, 5 THYR SIS. Behold the groves that shine with filver froft, Their beauty wither'd, and their verdure loft. 19 Here fhall I try, the sweet Alexis' strain, That call'd the lift'ning Dryads to the plain? Thames heard the numbers as he flow'd along, And bade his willows learn the moving fong. REMARKS. defired his friend to do the same, as appears from one of his Letters, dated Sept. 9, 1706. "Your last Eclogue being on the fame fubject with mine on Mrs. Tempeft's death, I "fhould take it very kindly in you to give it a little turn, as if it were to the memory of the fame lady." Her death having happened on the night of the great ftorm in 1703, gave a propriety to this eclogue, which in its general turn alludes to it. The fcene of the Paftoral lies in a grove, the time at midnight. P. VER. 9. fine with filver froft,] The image is a fine one, but improperly placed. The idea he would raife is the deformity of Winter, as appears by the following line: but this imagery contradicts it. It fhould have been-glare with haary froft, or fome fuch expreffion: the fame inaccuracy in ver. 31. "where he ufes pearls, when he should have faid tears. IMITATIONS. VER, 13. Thames heard, etc.] Audiit Eurotas, juffitque edifcere lauros. Virg. P. So may LYCIDA S. kind rains their vital moisture yield, 15 And fwell the future harvest of the field. Begin; this charge the dying Daphne gave, THYRSIS. Ye gentle Muses, leave your crystal spring, Let Nymphs and Sylvans cypress garlands bring; Ye weeping Loves, the stream with myrtles hide, And break your bows, as when Adonis dy'd; And with your golden darts, now useless grown, 25 Inscribe a verse on this relenting stone: "Let nature change, let heav'n and earth deplore, Fair Daphne's dead, and love is now no more!" 'Tis done, and nature's various charms decay, See gloomy clouds obfcure the chearful day! 30 VARIATIONS. VER. 29. Originally thus in the MS. 'Tis done, and nature's chang'd fince you are gone ; IMITATIONS. VER. 23, 24, 25. Inducite fontibus umbras- Now hung with pearls the dropping trees appear, Her name with pleasure once she taught the shore, No grateful dews defcend from ev'ning skies, 45 Nor morning odours from the flow'rs arise; No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field, Nor fragrant herbs their native incense yield. The balmy Zephyrs, filent fince her death, Lament the ceafing of a sweeter breath; Th' industrious bees neglect their golden store! Fair Daphne's dead, and sweetness is no more! No more the mounting larks, while Daphne fings, Shall lift'ning in mid-air fufpend their wings; I 50 No more the birds shall imitate her lays, 55 Or hufh'd with wonder, hearken from the sprays: 60 65 Her fate is whisper'd by the gentle breeze, Above the clouds, above the starry sky! 70 VER. 69, 70. IMITATIONS. miratur limen Olympi, Sub pedibufque videt nubes et fydera Daphnis. Virg. P. Behold us kindly, who your name implore, 75 LYCIDA S. How all things liften, while thy Mufe complains! In some still ev'ning, when the whisp'ring breeze give, Thy name, thy honour, and thy praise shall live! THYRSIS. But fee, Orion fheds unwholfome dews; Arife, the pines a noxious shade diffuse; Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay, Time conquers all, and we must Time obey. VARIATIONS. VER. 83. Originally thus in the MS. While vapours rife, and driving fnows defcend, VER. 81. VER. 86. IMITATIONS. illius aram 85 Sæpe tener noftris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus. Virg. P. folet effe gravis cantantibus umbra, Juniperi gravis umbra. VER. 88. Time conquers all, etc.] Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori. Virg. P. Vid. etiam Sannazarii Ecl, et Spencer's Calendar. |