The Muse shall sing, and what she sings shall last.) Scarce could the goddess from her nymph be known, 175 But by the crescent, and the golden zone. care; A belt her waist, a fillet binds her hair; A painted quiver on her shoulder sounds, As from the god she flew with furious pace, "Ah Cynthia! ah-though banished from thy train, Let me, O let me, to the shades repair, 200 My native shades-there weep, and murmur there." She said, and melting as in tears she lay, In a soft silver stream dissolved away. 2 The watery landscape of the pendant woods, Then foaming pour along, and rush into the Thou, too, great father of the British floods! With joyful pride survey'st our lofty woods; 220 Where towering oaks their growing honours rear, 225 And future navies on thy shores appear. Like the bright beauties on thy banks below; 1 The River Loddon.-P. 2 These six lines were added after the first writing of this poem.-P. Where Jove, subdued by mortal passion still, Might change Olympus for a nobler hill. Happy the man whom this bright court ap proves, 235 His sovereign favours, and his country loves; Happy next him, who to these shades retires, Whom nature charms, and whom the Muse inspires; 240 244 Whom humbler joys of home-felt quiet please, eyes, Bids his free soul expatiate in the skies, Amid her kindred stars familiar roam, Survey the region, and confess her home! Such was the life great Scipio once admired, Thus Atticus, and Trumbull thus retired. 250 255 Ye sacred Nine! that all my soul possess, Whose raptures fire me, and whose visions bless, 260 Bear me, oh bear me to sequestered scenes, fill, Or where ye Muses sport on Cooper's Hill. N On Cooper's Hill eternal wreaths shall grow, 265 While lasts the mountain, or while Thames shall flow. I seem through consecrated walks to rove, 270 Here his first lays majestic Denham sung; There the last numbers flowed from Cowley's tongue.1 275 O early lost! what tears the river shed, No more the forests ring, or groves rejoice; Who now shall charm the shades, where Cowley strung His living harp, and lofty Denham sung? 280 285 290 1 Mr. Cowley died at Chertsey, on the borders of the Forest, and was from thence conveyed to Westminster.-P. 2 All the lines that follow were not added to the poem till the year 1710. What immediately followed this, and made the conclusion, were these: 66 My humble Muse, in unambitious strains," &c.-P. Here noble Surrey felt the sacred rage,' Surrey, the Granville of a former age: Matchless his pen, victorious was his lance, Bold in the lists, and graceful in the dance: In the same shades the Cupids tuned his lyre, To the same notes, of love and soft desire: 296 Fair Geraldine, bright object of his vow, Then filled the groves as heavenly Mira now." Oh wouldst thou sing what heroes Windsor bore, 2 What kings first breathed upon her winding shore, 300 Or raise old warriors, whose adored remains age, 3 Draw monarchs chained, and Crecy's glorious field, The lilies blazing on the regal shield : 305 Then, from her roofs where Verrio's colours fall,* And leave inanimate the naked wall, Still in thy song should vanquished France appear, And bleed for ever under Britain's spear. Let softer strains ill-fated Henry mourn," And palms eternal flourish round his urn. 5 310 1 Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, one of the first refiners of the English poetry; famous in the time of Henry VIII. for his sonnets, the scene of many of which is laid at Windsor.-P. 2 The Fair Geraldine of Surrey was a daughter of the Earl of Kildare. The Mira of Granville was the Countess of Newburgh.-Warton. 3 Edward III. born here.-P. 4 For Verrio, see "Moral Essays," Ep. iv. 146, |