DAPHNIS. Nay, tell me first, in what more happy fields The thistle springs, to which the lily yields: 1 90 And then a nobler prize I will resign; For Sylvia, charming Sylvia, shall be thine. DAMON. Cease to contend, for, Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon and the lamb to thee: Blest swains, whose nymphs in every grace excel; 95 Blest nymphs, whose swains those graces sing so well! Now rise, and haste to yonder woodbine bowers, A soft retreat from sudden vernal showers; The turf with rural dainties shall be crowned, While opening blooms diffuse their sweets around. 100 For see the gathering flocks to shelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful showers descend. 1 Alludes to the device of the Scots monarchs, the thistle, worn by Queen Anne; and to the arms of France, the fleur de lys. The two riddles are in imitation of those in Virg. Ecl. iii. : "Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina regum Nascantur flores, et Phyllida solus habeto."-P. SUMMER: THE SECOND PASTORAL, OR ALEXIS. TO DR. GARTH. SHEPHERD'S boy (he seeks no Led forth his flocks along the silver Where dancing sunbeams on the waters played,' dure, From love, the sole disease thou canst not cure. Ye shady beeches, and ye cooling streams, Defence from Phoebus', not from Cupid's beams, 1 The scene of this Pastoral by the river's side, suitable to the heat of the season; the time, noon. -P. 2 "Jupiter et læto descendet plurimus imbri.” Virg.-P. 3 Dr. Samuel Garth, author of the Dispensary, was one of the best friends of the author, whose acquaintance with him began at fourteen or fifteen. Their friendship continued from the year 1703 to 1718, which was that of his death.-P. 15 To you I mourn, nor to the deaf I sing,1 "The woods shall answer, and their echo ring."2 The hills and rocks attend my doleful lay, Why art thou prouder and more hard than they? The bleating sheep with my complaints agree, They parched with heat, and I inflamed by thee. The sultry Sirius burns the thirsty plains, 20 Where stray ye, Muses, in what lawn or While your Alexis pines in hopeless love? 1 "Non canimus surdis, respondent omnia sylvæ." Virg.-P. 2 A line out of Spenser's Epithalamion.—P. 3 "Quæ nemora, aut qui vos saltus habuere, puellæ 4 Virgil again, from the Cyclops of Theocritus: nuper me in littore vidi, Cum placidum ventis staret mare; non ego Daphnim, Judice te, metuam, si nunquam fallit imago."-P. Let other swains attend the rural care, Feed fairer flocks, or richer fleeces shear: 35 But nigh yon mountain let me tune my lays, Embrace my love, and bind my brows with bays. That flute is mine which Colin's tuneful breath1 Inspired when living, and bequeathed in 2 death: 40 44 He said, "Alexis, take this pipe, the same And yet my numbers please the rural throng, Rough satyrs dance, and Pan applauds the song: 50 The nymphs, forsaking every cave and spring, For you the swains the fairest flowers design, 55 See what delights in sylvan scenes appear! Descending gods have found Elysium here. 60 3 1 The name taken by Spenser in his Eclogues, where his mistress is celebrated under that of Rosalinda.-P. 2 Virg. Ecl. ii. : "Est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis Fistula, Damcetas dono mihi quam dedit olim, Et dixit moriens, Te nunc habet ista secundum.”—P. 3 "Habitarunt di quoque sylvas.”—Virg. "Et formosus oves ad flumina pavit Adonis." Idem.-P. In woods bright Venus with Adonis strayed, And chaste Diana haunts the forest-shade. Come, lovely nymph, and bless the silent hours, When swains from shearing seek their nightly bowers; When 65 weary reapers quit the sultry field, And crowned with corn their thanks to Ceres yield. This harmless grove no lurking viper hides, glade, 70 Trees, where you sit, shall crowd into a shade : Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise, 75 And all things flourish where you turn your eyes. Oh how I long with you to pass my days, Invoke the Muses, and resound your praise! Your praise the birds shall chant in every grove, 1 And winds shall waft it to the powers above.2 80 But would you sing, and rival Orpheus' strain, The wondering forests soon should dance again, 1 Your praise the tuneful birds to heaven shall bear, And listening wolves grow milder as they hear." So the verses were originally written; but the author, young as he was, soon found the absurdity which Spenser himself overlooked, of introducing wolves into England.-P. 2 "Partem aliquam, venti, divum referatis ad aures!" Virg.-P. |