per

THERE is in the Adventurer a pa

of verfes given to one of the authors as Mr. Weft's, and fuppofed to have been written by him, which, having been left out by the compilers, it is proper to infert here. It should not be concealed, however, that this Elegy is printed with Mr. Jago's name in Dodfley's Collection, and is mentioned as his in a Letter of Shenftone's. Perhaps Weft gave it without naming the author; and Hawkefworth, receiving it from him, thought it his; for his he thought it, as he told me, and as he tells the publick.

ELE

E L EGY,

Occafioned by fhooting a BLACKBIRD on Valentine's-Day.

The fun had chac'd the winter's snow,
And kindly loos'd the froft-bound foil;
The melting ftreams began to flow,

And plowmen urg'd their annual toil..

"Twas then amid the vernal throng,
Whom Nature wakes to mirth and love,.
A Blackbird rais'd his am'rous fong,
And thus it echo'd through the grove.

"O! fairest of the feather'd train,
"For whom I fing, for whom I burn;
"Attend with pity to my strain,

"And grant my love a kind return.

"See, fee, the winter's storms are flown,
"And Zephyrs gently fan the air!

"Let us the genial influence own,
"Let us the vernal pastime fhare.

"The

"The Raven plumes his jetty wing,

To please his croaking paramour; "The Larks refponfive love-tales fing, "And tell their paffions as they foar.

"But trust me, love, the Raven's wing "Is not to be compar'd with mine; "Nor can the Lark fo fweetly fing

"As I, who strength with fweetness join. "With thee I'll prove the sweets of love, With thee divide the cares of life;

"No fonder husband in the grove,
"Nor none than thee a happier wife.
"I'll lead thee to the cleareft rill,
"Whose streams among the pebbles ftray
"There will we fit and fip our fill,
"Or on the flow'ry border play.

"I'll guide thee to the thickest brake,
"Impervious to the fchool-boy's eye:
"For thee the plaster'd neft I'll makė,
"And on thy downy pinions lie.

"To get thee food I'll range the fields,
"And cull the best of ev'ry kind;
"Whatever nature's bounty yields,

"Or love's affiduous care can find.

"And

"And when my lovely mate would ftray,

"To tafte the fummer's fweets at large, "At home i'll wait the live-long day,

"And tend at home our infant charge.

"When prompted by a mother's care "Thy warmth fhall form th' imprifon'd

66 young,

"With thee the task I'll fondly fhare,

Or cheer thy labours with my fong."

He ceas'd his fong. The melting dame
With tender pity heard his ftrain ;
She felt, the own'd a mutual flame,
And haften'd to relieve his pain.

He led her to the nuptial bow'r,
And neftled closely to her fide,
The happiest bridegroom in that hour,
And the the most enamour'd bride.

Next morn he wak'd her with a fong"Arife! behold the new-born day! "The Lark his mattin peal has rung; "Arife, my love, and come away!"

Together

Together through the fields they stray'd,

And to the verdant riv'let's fide,

Renew'd their vows, and hopp'd and play'd,
With honeft joy and decent pride.

But, O my Mufe with pain relates
The mournful fequel of my tale:
Sent by an order of the Fates,
A gunner met them in the vale.

Alarm'd, the lover cry'd, My dear,

"Hafte, hafte away; from danger fly! "Here, gunner, take thy vengeance, here! "O! fpare my love, and let me die."

At him the gunner took his aim;
The aim he took was much too true;
O had he chose some other game,
Or fhot as he had us'd to do! *

Divided pair! forgive the wrong,

While I with tears your fate rehearse : I'll join the widow's plaintive fong,

And fave the lover in my verfe.

*Never having killed any thing before or fince.