Finds wealth where 'tis, bestows it where it wants, Cities in defarts, woods in cities plants;
So that to us no thing, no place, is strange, While his fair bofom is the worlds exchange.
O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme! 190 Though deep, yet clear; though gentle, yet not dull; Strong without rage, without o're-flowing full. Heaven her Eridanus no more shall boast, Whose fame in thine like leffer current's lost ; Thy nobler ftreams shall vifit Joves abodes, 195 To shine among the stars, and bath the gods. Here* Nature, whether more intent to please Us or herself, with strange varieties,
(For things of wonder give no less delight
To the wife maker's, than beholder's fight: 200 Though these delights from several causes move; For fo our children, thus our friends we love ;) Wifely she knew, the harmony of things, As well as that of founds, from difcord fprings. Such was the difcord, which did firft difperfe 205 Form, order, beauty, through the universe: While drinefs moyfture, coldness heat resists, All that we have, and that we are, subsists: While the steep horrid roughness of the wood Strives with the gentle calmness of the flood. 210
Such huge extreams when nature doth unite, Wonder from thence refults, from thence delight. The ftream is fo tranfparent, pure and clear, That had the felf-enamour'd youth* gaz'd here, So fatally deceiv'd he had not been, 215 While he the bottom, not his face had feen. But his proud head the aery mountain hides Among the clouds; his fhoulders and his fides A fhady mantle cloaths; his curled brows Frown on the gentle stream, which calmly flows; While winds and storms his lofty forehead beat: The common fate of all that's high or great. Low at his foot a spacious plain is plac't, Between the mountain and the ftream embrac't; Which shade and fhelter from the hill derives, 225 While the kind river health and beauty gives; And in the mixture of all these appears
Variety, which all the reft indears.
This fcene had fome bold Greek, or British bard Beheld of old, what ftories had we heard Of fairies, fatyrs, and the nymphs their dames, Their feafts, their revels, and their amorous flames! "Tis ftill the fame, although their aery shape All but a quick poetick fight escape.
There Faunus and Sylvanus keep their courts, And thither all the horned hoft reforts
graze the ranker mead, that noble heard, On whose sublime and shady fronts is rear'd Nature's great mafter-piece; to fhew how foon Great things are made, but sooner are undone. 240 Here have I seen the king, when great affairs Gave leave to flacken, and unbend his cares, Attended to the chase by all the flower
Of youth, whofe hopes a nobler prey devour: Pleasure with praise, and danger they would buy, And with a foe that would not only flye.
The ftag now confcious of his fatal growth,
At once indulgent to his fear and floth,
To fome dark covert his retreat had made, Where nor mans eye, nor heavens fhould invade His foft repose; when th' unexpected found 251 Of dogs, and men, his wakeful ear doth wound: Rouz'd with the noise, he scarce believes his ear, Willing to think th' illufions of his fear
Had giv❜n this false alarm, but straight his view Confirms, that more than all he fears is true. 256 Betray'd in all his ftrengths, the wood befet; All inftruments, all arts of ruine met;
He calls to mind his ftrength, and then his speed, His winged heels, and then his armed head; 260 With these t'avoid, with that his fate to meet : But fear prevails, and bids him trust his feet. So faft he flies, that his reviewing eye Has loft the chafers, and his ear the cry;
Exulting, 'till he finds their nobler fenfe 265 Their difproportion'd speed does recompenfe ; Then curses his confpiring feet, whose scent Betrays that fafety which their swiftness lent. Then tries his friends; among the baser herd, Where he fo lately was obey'd and fear'd, His fafety feeks: The herd, unkindly wife, Or chafes him from thence, or from him flies Like a declining ftates-man, left forlorn To his friends pity, and pursuers scorn, With shame remembers, while himself was one Of the fame herd, himself the fame had done. 276 Thence to the coverts, and the confcious groves, The scenes of his paft triumphs, and his loves; Sadly furveying where he rang'd alone Prince of the foyl, and all the herd his own; 280 And like a bold knight-errant did proclaim Combat to all, and bore away the dame;
And taught the woods to eccho to the stream
His dreadful challenge, and his clashing beam:
Yet faintly now declines the fatal strife;
So much his love was dearer than his life.
Now every leaf, and every moving breath, Presents a foe, and ev'ry foe a death. Wearied, forfaken, and purfu'd, at last All fafety in despair of safety plac'd, Courage he thence refumes, refolv'd to bear All their affaults, fince 'tis in vain to fear:
And now too late he wishes for the fight That strength he wasted in ignoble flight: But when he fees the eager chafe renew'd, Himself by dogs, the dogs by men purfu'd, He ftraight revokes his bold refolve, and more Repents his courage, than his fear before; Finds that uncertain ways unfafeft are,
And doubt a greater mischief than despair. 300 Then to the ftream, when neither friends, nor force, Nor speed, nor art avail, he shapes his course; Thinks not their rage fo defperate t'affay
An element more merciless than they ;
But fearless they pursue, nor can the floud
Quench their dire thirst; alas, they thirst for bloud.
So towards a fhip the oare-fin'd gallies ply, Which wanting fea to ride, or wind to fly, Stands but to fall reveng'd on those that dare Tempt the last fury of extream despair. So fares the ftag, among th' enraged hounds, Repels their force, and wounds returns for wounds. And as a hero, whom his bafer foes
In troops furround, now thefe affails, now those, Though prodigal of life, difdains to die By common hands; but if he can descry Some nobler foe approach, to him he calls, And begs his fate, and then contented falls. So when the king a mortal shaft lets flye From his unerring hand, then glad to dye,
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