116 120 Here young Narcissus o'er the fountain stood, That beauty's but a transient good at best; Thus on the Fan the breathing figures shine, 135 And all the powers applaud the wise design. 140 The Cyprian queen the painted gift receives, And with a grateful bow the synod leaves : To the low world she bends her steepy way, Where Strephon pass'd the solitary day : She found him in a melancholy grove, His downcast eyes betray'd desponding love; The wounded bark confess'd his slighted flame, And every tree bore false Corinna's name. In a cool shade he lay with folded arms, Curses his fortune, and upbraids her charms, When Venus to his wondering eyes appears, And with these words relieves his amorous cares 145 "Rise, happy youth! this bright machine survey, Whose rattling sticks my busy fingers sway; 150 "The Fan shall flutter in all female hands, And various fashions learn from various lands: For this shall elephants their ivory shed, And polish'd sticks the waving engine spread; His clouded mail the tortoise shall resign, And round the rivet pearly circles shine: On this shall Indians all their art employ, And with bright colours stain the gaudy toy; 160 Their paint shall here in wildest fancies flow, Their dress, their customs, their religion show; So shall the British fair their minds improve, And on the Fan to distant climates rove. Here China's ladies shall their pride display, 165 And silver figures gild their loose array: 155 This boasts her little feet and winking eyes; 170 And shelter love beneath devotion's veil. Gay France shall make the Fan her artists' care, 176 And with the costly trinket arm the fair. While Venus spoke, joy shone in Strephon's eyes, Proud of the gift, he to Corinna flies: But Cupid (who delights in amorous ill, 185 With certain aim a golden arrow drew, 190 Lo, Strephon comes? and with a suppliant bow Offers the present, and renews his vow. When she the fate of Niobe beheld, 'Why has my pride against my heart rebell'd?" She sighing cried: disdain forsook her breast, And Strephon now was thought a worthy guest. In Procris' bosom when she saw the dart, She justly blames her own suspicious heart; 200 Imputes her discontent to jealous fear, And knows her Strephon's constancy sincere. When on Camilla's fate her eye she turns, No more for show and equipage she burns: She learns Leander's passion to despise, And looks on merit with discerning eyes. 195 205 Narcissus' change to the vain virgin shows, Who trusts to beauty trusts the fading rose. Youth flies apace, with youth your beauty flies; Love then, ye virgins! ere the blossom dies. 210 Thus Fallas taught her. Strephon weds the dame, And Hymen's torch diffus'd the brightest flame. GREAT marvel hath it been, (and that not unworthily) to diverse worthy wits, that in this our island of Britain, in all rare sciences so greatly abounding, more especially in all kinds of poësy highly flourishing, no poet (though otherways of notable cunning in roundelays) hath hit on the right simple Eclogue, after the true ancient guise of Theocritus, before this mine attempt. Other poets travailing in this plain highway of pastoral know I none. Yet, certes, such it behoveth a pastoral to be, as nature in the country affordeth; and the manners also meetly copied from the rustical folk therein. In this also my love to my native country Britain much pricketh me forward, to describe aright the manners of our own honest and laborious ploughmen: in no wise, sure, more unworthy a British poet's imitation, than those of Sicily or Arcady; albeit, not igno Z2 rant I am what a rout and rabblement of critical gallimawfry hath been made of late days by certain young men of insipid delicacy, concerning I wist not what Golden Age, and other outrageous conceits, to which they would confine pastoral: whereof, I avow, I account nought at all, knowing no age so justly to be instiled Golden, as this of our sovereign lady Queen Anne. This idle trumpery (only fit for schools and schoolboys) unto that ancient Doric shepherd Theocritus, or his mates, was never known; he rightly, throughout his fifth Idyl, maketh his louts give foul language, and behold their goats at rut in all simplicity. Ωιπολος οκκ' εσορη τας μηκαδας οια βαζευνται THEOCR. Verily, as little pleasance receiveth a true homebred taste from all the fine finical newfangled fooleries of this gay Gothic garniture, wherewith they so nicely bedeck their court clowns, or clown courtiers, (for which to call them rightly, I wot not) as would a prudent citizen journeying to his country farms, should he find them occupied by people of this motley make; instead of plain, down-right, hearty, cleanly folk, such as be now tenants to the burgesses of this realm. Furthermore, it is my purpose, gentle Reader, to set before thee, as it were, a picture, or rather lively landscape of thy own country, just as thou mightest see it, didst thou take a walk into the fields at the proper season; even as Maister Milton hath elegantly set forth the same. |