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Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay,
Time conquers all, and we must Time obey.
Adieu, ye vales, ye mountains, streams, and groves,
Adieu, ye shepherds' rural lays and loves;
Adieu, my flocks; farewell, ye fylvan crew;
Daphne, farewell; and all the world adieu !

REMARK S.

90

VER. 89, etc.] These four last lines allude to the feveral fubjects of the four Paftorals, and to the several scenes of them, particularized before in each. P.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 88. Time conquers all, etc.]

Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.
Vid. etiam Sannazarii Ecl. et Spencer's Calendar.

MESSIAH,

A

Sacred Eclogue,

In IMITATION of

VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

Advertisement.

N reading feveral paffages of the Prophet Ifaiah,

cities attending it, I could not but obferve a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not feem furprifing, 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 felected fuch ideas as beft agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which ferved moft to beautify his piece. I have endeavoured the fame in this imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; fince it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the feveral thoughts, might fee how far the images and defcriptions of the prophet are fuperior to thofe of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the paffages of Ifaiah, and those of Virgil, under the fame difadvantage of a literal translation. P.

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A

SACRED ECLOGUE,

,,

In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong:

YE

To heav'nly themes fublimer ftrains belong. The moffy fountains, and the fylvan fhades, The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids, Delight no more-O thou my voice inspire Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire! Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : A Virgin fhall conceive, a Virgin bear á Son!

IMITATIONS.

5

VER. 8. A Virgin fhall conceive-All crimes fhall cease,

etc.]

VIRG. Ecl. iv. ver. 6.

Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
Jam nova progenies cælo demittitur alto.
Teduce, fi qua manent fceleris vestigia nostri,
Irrita perpetua solvent formidine terras
Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.

"Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new progeny is fent down from high "heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our "crimes remain, fhall be wiped away, and free the "world from perpetual fears. He fhall govern the earth "in peace, with the virtues of his father."

ISAIAH, Ch. vii. ver. 14. "Behold a Virgin shall con"ceive and bear a fon.---Chap. ix. ver. 6, 7. Unto us a “Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the Prince of

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