20

Pour'd o'er the whit'ning vale their fleecy care,
Fresh as the morn, and as the season fair:
The dawn now blushing on the mountain's fide,
Thus Daphnis fpoke, and Strephon thus reply'd.

DAPHNI S.

Hear how the birds, on ev'ry bloomy fpray, With joyous mufic wake the dawning day! Why fit we mute, when early linnets fing, 25 When warbling Philomel falutes the fpring? Why fit we fad, when Phosphor shines so clear, And lavish Nature paints the purple year?

STREP HON.

Sing then, and Damon shall attend the strain, While yon' flow oxen turn the furrow'd plain. 30 Here the bright crocus and blue vi'let glow, Here western winds on breathing roses blow. I'll stake yon' lamb, that near the fountain plays, And from the brink his dancing shade furveys.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 34. The first reading was,

And his own image from the bank furveys.

REMARK S.

VER. 28. purple year?] Purple here used in the Latin fenfe of the brightest most vivid colouring in general, not of that specific tint fo called.

DAPHNI S.

And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, 35 And fwelling clusters bend the curling vines : Four figures rifing from the work appear, The various feafons of the rowling year; And what is that, which binds the radiant fky, Where twelve fair figns in beauteous order lie? 40

DAMO N.

Then fing by turns, by turns the Mufes fing, Now hawthorns bloffom, now the daifies spring, Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs adorn the ground; Begin, the vales fhall ev'ry note rebound.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 36. And clusters lurk beneath the curling vines. P.

VER. 35, 36.

REMARK S.

Lenta quibus torno facili fuperaddita vitis,

Diffufos edera veftit pallente corymbos. Virg. P. VER. 38. The various feafons.] The fubject of these Pastorals engraven on the bowl is not without its propriety.

IMITATIONS.

The Shepherd's hesitation at the name of the Zodiac, imitates that in Virgil,

Et quis fuit alter,

P.

Defcripfit radio totum qui gentibus orbem?
VER. 41. Then fing by turns.] Literally from Virgil,
Alternis dicetis, amant alterna Camœnæ :

Et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbos,
Nunc frondent fylvæ, nunc formofiffimus annus. P.

Inspire me, Phœbus, in my

STREP HON.

Delia's praise, 45

With Waller's strains, or Granville's moving lays! A milk white bull shall at your altars stand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand.

DAPHNI S.

O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, And make my tongue victorious as her eyes: 50 No lambs or sheep for victims I'll impart, Thy victim, Love, shall be the shepherd's heart.

STREP HON.

Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then hid in fhades, eludes her eager fwain; But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, 55 And by that laugh the willing fair is found.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 49. Originally thus in the MS.

Pan, let my numbers equal Strephon's lays,
Of Parian stone thy ftitue will I raise ;

But if I conquer and augment my fold,

Thy Parian statue shall be chang'd to gold.

REMARK S.

VER. 46. Granville-] George Granville, afterwards Lord Lanfdown, known for his Poems, most of which he compos'd very young, and propos'd Waller as his model. P.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 47. A milk white Bull.] Virg.-Pafcite taurum,
Qui cornu petat, et pedibus jam fpargat arenam. P.

DAPHNI S.

The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green, She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; While a kind glance at her purfuer flies,

How much at variance are her feet and eyes! 60

STREP HON.

O'er golden fands let rich Pactolus flow,
And trees weep amber on the banks of Po;
Bleft Thames's fhores the brightest beauties yield,
Feed here my lambs, I'll feek no distant field.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 61. It food thus at first,

Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boast,
Her purple wool the proud Affyrian coaft,
Bleft Thames's fhores, etc. P.

VER. 61. Originally thus in the MS.

Go, flow'ry wreath, and let my Sylvia know,
Compar'd to thine how bright her Beauties fhow;
Then die; and dying teach the lovely Maid
How foon the brightest beauties are decay'd.
DAPHNI S.

Go, tuneful bird, that pleas'd the woods fo long,
Of Amaryllis learn a fweeter fong;

To Heav'n arifing then her notes convey,
For Heav'n alone is worthy fuch a lay.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 58. She runs, but hopes ] Imitation of Virgil,
Malo me Galatea petit, lafciva puella,

Et fugit ad falices, fed fe cupit ante videri. P.
VOL. I.

"

DAPHNI S.

Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves;

-65

If Windfor-fhades delight the matchlefs maid, Cynthus and Hybla yield to Windfor-fhade.

STREP HON.

All nature mourns, the skies relent in fhow'rs, Hufh'dare the birds, and clos'd the droopingflow'rs; If Delia fmile, the flow'rs begin to fpring, 71 The skies to brighten, and the birds to fing.

DAPHNI S.

All nature laughs, the groves are frefh and fair, The Sun's mild luftre warms the vital air;

If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore, 75 And vanquish'd nature feems to charm no more.

STRE PHON.

In fpring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the fhady grove,

VER. 69. etc.

VARIATIONS.

These verses were thus at firft:

All nature mourns, the birds their fongs deny,
Nor wafted brooks the thirsty flow`rs supply;
If Delia smile, the flow'rs begin to spring,
The brooks to murmur, and the birds to fing. P.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 69. All nature mourns,]

Aret ager, vitio moriens fitit aëris herba, etc.
Phyllidis adventu noftræ nemus omne virebit. Virg, P.