Lace by this, befides the general moral of inno cence and fimplicity, which is common to other authors of paftoral, he has one peculiar to himself; he compares human life to the feveral feasons, and at once exposes to his readers a view of the great and little worlds, in their various changes and afpects. Yet the fcrupulous divifion of his paftorals into months, has obliged him either to repeat the fame description, in other words, for three months together; or, when it was exhausted before, entirely to omit it: whence it comes to pafs that fome of his eclogues (as the fixth, eighth, and tenth, for example) have nothing but their titles to diftinguith them. The reason is evident, because the year has not that variety in it to furpifh every month with a particular description, as it may every feafon. Of the following eclogues I fhall only fay, that these four comprehend all the fubjects which the critics upon Theocritus and Virgil will allow to be fit for paftoral: That they have as much va riety of defcription, in respect of the feveral feafons, as Spenfer's: That, in order to add to this variety, the feveral times of the day are observed, the rural employments in each season or time of day, and the rural scenes or places proper to fuch employments; not without fome regard to the feveral ages of man, and the different paffions proper to each age. But after all, if they have any merit, it is to be attributed to fome good old authors, whose works as I had leisure to ftudy, fo, I hope, I have not wanted care to imitate. PASTORALS. SPRIN G. THE FIRST PASTORAL, OR DAMON. TO SIR WILLIAM TRUMBULL, FIRST in these fields I try the fylvan strains, Youth at, too wife for pride, too good for power, Enjoy the glory to be great no more, DAPHNIS. And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, And swelling clusters bend the curling vines : Four figures rifing from the work appear, The various feasons of the rolling year; And what is that, which binds the radiant fky, Where twelve fair figns in beauteous order lie? 40 DAMON. Then fing by turns, by turns the mufes fing; Now hawthorns bloffom, now the daifies spring, Now leaves the trees, and flowers adorn the ground; Begin, the vales shall every note rebound. STREPHON. Inspire me, Phœbus, in my Delia's praise, With Waller's ftrains, or Granville's moving lays! A milk-white bull fhall at your altars ftand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand. DAPHNIS. O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, And make my tongue victorious as her eyes; 50 No lambs or fheep for victims I'll impart, Thy victim, Love, fhall be the shepherd's heart. STREPHON. Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in fhades, eludes her eager fwain; But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, And by that laugh the willing fair is found. DAPHNIS, The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green, She runs, but hopes the does not run unfeen; While a kind glance at her pursuer flies, How much at variance are her feet and eyes! 60 VARIATIONS. Ver. 36. And clusters lurk beneath the curling vines. Ver. 49. Originally thus in the MS. 30 Where ftray ye, mufes, in what lawn or grove, While your Alexis pines in hopeless love? In thofe fair fields where facred Ifis glides, Or else where Cam his winding vales divides? As in the cryflal fpring I view my face, Fresh rifing blushes paint the watery glass; But fince thofe graces please thy eyes no more, i fhun the fountains which I fought before. Once I was skill'd in every herb that grew, And every plant that drinks the morning dew; Ah, wretched fhepherd, what avails thy art, To cure thy lambs, but not to heal thy heart! Let other fwains attend the rural care, Feed fairer flocks, or richer fleeces sheer: But nigh yon' mountain let me tune my lays, Embrace my love, and bind my brows with bays. That flute is mine which Colin's tuneful breath Infpir'd when living, and bequeath'd in death: 40' He faid; Alexis, take this pipe. the fame That taught the groves my Rofalinda's name : But now the reeds fhall hang on yonder tree, For ever filent, fince defpis'd by thee. O! were I made by fome transforming power The captive bird that fings within thy bower! Then might my voice thy liftening ears employ, And I thofe kiffes he receives enjoy. And yet my numbers please the rural throng, Rough Satyrs dance, and Pan applauds the fong: 50 The nymphs, forfaking every cave and fpring, Their early fruit and milk-white turtles bring! VARIATIONS. Ver. 27. Oft in the crystal spring I caft a view, Each amorous nymph prefers her gifts in vain, See what delights in fylvan fcenes appear! 70 When weary reapers quit the fultry field, But fee, the shepherds fhun the noon-day heat, VARIATIONS. Ver. 79. 80. Your praife the tuneful birds to heaven shall bear, And listening wolves grow milder as they hear. So the verfes were originally written; but the author, young as he was, fon found the abfurdity, which Spenfer himself overlooked, of introducing wolves into England. Ver. 91. Me love inflames, nor will his fires allay. AUTUM N. THE THIRD PASTORAL, OR HYLAS AND GON. TO MR. WYCHERLY. Now fetting Phoebus fhone ferenely bright, Go, gentle gales, and beár my sighs away! Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs away! Not fhowers to larks, or funshine to the bee, 50 Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs away! Next Egon fung, while Windsor groves ad- Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful strain ! Lose the low vales, and steal into the skies; 60 Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful lay ! Refound, ye hills, refound my mournful strain : Go, gentle gales, and bear my fighs along! |