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ADVERTISEMENT.

In reading several passages of the Prophet Isaiah, which foretell the coming of Christ and the felicities attending it, I could not but observe a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts and those in the Pollio' of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reflect that the eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but selected such ideas as best agreed with the nature of pastoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served most to beautify his piece. I have endeavoured the same in this imitation of him, though without admitting anything of my own; since it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the several thoughts, might see how far the images and descriptions of the Prophet are superior to those of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the passages of Isaiah, and those of Virgil, under the same disadvantage of a literal translation.-P.

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The mossy fountains, and the sylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and the Aonian maids,
Delight no more-O Thou my voice inspire 5
Who touched Isaiah's hallowed lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the bard begun :
A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

3

1 First published in the "Spectator," May 14,

1712.

2 A contraction of Hierosolyma (Jerusalem).

3 "Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
Jam nova progenies coelo demittitur alto.-
Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri,
Irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras-
Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem."
Virg. Ecl. iv. 6.

"Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new progeny is sent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain shall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall

From Jesse's1 root behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the

skies:

The ethereal Spirit o'er its leaves shall move,
And on its top descends the mystic Dove.
Ye Heavens !2 from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in soft silence shed the kindly shower!
The sick and weak the healing plant shall

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aid,

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From storms a shelter, and from heat a shade. All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;

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Returning Justice lift aloft her scale;
Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-robed Innocence from heaven de-

scend.

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Swift fly the years, and rise the expected morn! Oh spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born! See Nature hastes her earliest wreaths to bring,

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govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his father.

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Isa. vii. 14.—“Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. Ch. ix. 6, 7.-"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to establish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever and ever."—P. 2 Ibid. xlv. 8.-P. 4 Ibid. ix. 7.-P.

1 Isa. xi. 1.-P.

3 Ibid. xxv. 4.-P.

5 "At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscula cultu,
Errantes hederas passim cum baccare tellus,
Mixtaque ridenti colocasia fundet acantho.-
Ipsa tibi blandos fundent cunabula flores."

Virg. Ecl. iv. 18.

"For thee, O child, shall the earth, without being tilled, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed

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With all the incense of the breathing spring:
See lofty Lebanon 1 his head advance;
See nodding forests on the mountains dance:
See spicy clouds from lowly Saron rise,
And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely desert cheers:
Prepare the way !2 a God, a God appears:
A God, a God! the vocal hills reply,
The rocks proclaim the approaching Deity.

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with Baccar, and Colocasia, with smiling Acanthus. Thy cradle shall pour forth pleasing flowers about thee."

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Isa. xxxv. 1.-"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. Ch. lx. 13.-"The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pinetree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary."-P.

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1 Isa. xxxv. 2.-P.

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Aggredere, o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores, Cara deum soboles, magnum Jovis incrementum

Ecl. v. 62:

"Ipsi lætitia voces ad sidera jactant

Intonsi montes, ipsæ jam carmina rupes,

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Ipsa sonant arbusta, Deus, deus ille, Menalca !"-P.

"Oh come and receive the mighty honours; the time draws nigh, O beloved offspring of the gods, O great increase of Jove: The uncultivated mountains send shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks sing in verse, the very shrubs cry out, A god, a god!"

Isa. xl. 3, 4.-"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord! make straight in the desert a high way for our God! Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain." Ch. xliv. 23.— "Break forth into singing, ye mountains! O forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Israel."-P.

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