AS Waller profeffed himself to have learned the art of verfification from Fairfax, it has been thought proper to fubjoin a fpecimen of his work, which, after Mr. Hoole's tranflation, will perhaps not be foon reprinted. By knowing the state in which Waller found our poetry, the reader may judge how much he improved it.
Erminia's fteed (this while) his miftreffe bore
Through forrefts thicke among the fhadie treene,
Her feeble hand the bridle raines forelore,
Halfe in a fwoune fhe was for feare I weene;
But her flit courfer fpared nere the more,
To beare her through the defart woods unfeene
Of her ftrong foes, that chas'd her through the plaine,
And still purfu'd, but still purfu'd in vaine.
Like as the wearie hounds at last retire,
Windleffe, difpleased, from the fruitlesse chace,
When the flie beast Tapifht in bush and brire,
No art nor pains can rowse out of his place :
The Chriftian knights fo full of fhame and ire
Returned backe, with faint and wearie pace!
Yet ftill the fearfull Dame fled, fwift as winde,
Nor euer ftaid, nor euer lookt behinde.
Through thicke and thinne, all night, all day, she driued,
Withouten comfort, companie, or guide,
Her plaints and teares with euery thought reuiued,
She heard and faw her greefes, but nought befide.
But when the funne his burning chariot diued
In Thetis waue, and wearie teame vntide,
On Iordans fandie banks her courfe fhe ftaid,
At last, there downe she light, and downe the laid.
Her teares, her drinke; her food, her forrowings,
This was her diet that vnhappie night:
But fleepe (that fweet repofe and quiet brings)
To ease the greefes of difcontented wight,
Spred foorth his tender, foft, and nimble wings,
In his dull armes foulding the virgin bright;
And loue, his mother, and the graces kept
Strong watch and warde, while this faire Ladie flept.
The birds awakte her with their morning fong,
Their warbling muficke pearft her tender care,
The murmuring brookes and whiftling windes among
The ratling boughes, and leaues, their parts did beare;
Her eies vnclos'd beheld the groues along
Of fwaines and thepherd groomes, that dwellings weare;
And that fweet noife, birds, winds, and waters fent,
Prouokt again the virgin to lament.
Her plaints were interrupted with a found,
That feem'd from thickest bushes to proceed,
Some iolly fhepherd fung a luftie round,
And to his voice had tun'd his oaten reed;
Thither fhe went, an old man there the found
(At whofe right hand his little flock did feed)
Sat making baskets, his three fonnes among
That learn'd their fathers art, and learn'd his fong.
Beholding one in fhining armes appeare
The feelie man and his were fore difmaid;
But fweet Erminia comforted their feare,
Her ventall vp, her vifage open laid,
You happy folke, of heau'n beloued deare,
Work on (quoth the) upon your harmleffe traid,
Thefe dreadfull armes I beare no warfare bring
To your sweet toile, nor thofe fweet tunes you ting.
But father, fince this land, thefe townes and towres,
Deftroied are with fword, with fire and spoile,
How may it be unhurt, that you and yours
In fafetie thus, applie your harmlesse toile?
My fonne (quoth he) this pore estate of ours
Is euer fafe from ftorm of warlike broile;
This wilderneffe doth vs in faftie keepe,
No thundring drum, no trumpet breakes our sleepe.
Haply iuft heau'ns defence and shield of right,
Doth loue the innocence of fimple fwains,
The thunderbolts on highest mountains light,
And feld or neuer ftrike the lower plaines :
So kings have caufe to feare Bellonaes might,
Not they whofe fweat and toile their dinner gaines,
Nor ever greedie foldier was entised
By pouertie, neglected and despised.
O Pouertie, chefe of the heau'nly brood,
Dearer to me than wealth or kingly crowne!
No with for honour, thirft of others good,
Can moue my heart, contented with mine owne:
We quench our thirft with water of this flood,
Nor fear we poifon fhould therein be throwne:
Thefe little flocks of fheepe and tender goates
Giue milke for food, and wool to make us coates.
We little wifh, we need but little wealth,
From cold and hunger vs to cloath and feed;
Thefe are my fonnes, their care preferues from ftealth
Their fathers flocks, nor fervants moc I need:
Amid thefe groues I walke oft for my health,
And to the fishes, birds, and beaftes giue heed,
How they are fed, in forrest, fpring and lake,
And their contentment for enfample take.
Time was (or each one hath his doting time,
These filuer locks were golden treffes than)
That countrie life I hated as a crime,
And from the forrefts sweet contentment ran,
To Memphis' ftately pallace would I clime,
And there became the mightie Caliphes man,
And though I but a fimple gardner weare,
Yet could I marke abuses, fee and heare.
Entifed on with hope of future gaine,
I fuffred long what did my foule difpleafe;
But when my youth was spent, my hope was vaine,
I felt my native strength at last decrease;
I gan my loffe of luftie yeeres complaine,
And wifht I had enjoy'd the countries peace;
I bod the court farewell, and with content
My later age here have I quiet fpent.
While thus he spake, Erminia husht and still
His wife difcourfes heard, with great attention,
His fpeeches graue thofe idle fancies kill,
Which in her troubled foule bred fuch diffention;
After much thought reformed was her will,
Within those woods to dwell was her intention,
Till fortune fhould occafion new afford,
To turne her home to her defired Lord.
She faid therefore, O fhepherd fortunate!
That troubles fome didft whilom feele and proue,
Yet liueft now in this contented state,
Let my mishap thy thoughts to pitie moue,
To entertaine me as a willing mate
In fhepherds life, which I admire and loue;
Within these pleasant groues perchance my hart,
Of her difcomforts, may vnload fome part.
If gold or wealth of most esteemed deare,
If jewels rich, thou diddeft hold in prife,
Such ftore thereof, fuch plentie haue I seen,
As to a greedie minde might well fuffice:
With that downe trickled many a filuer teare,
Two chriftall ftreames fell from her watrie eies;
Part of her fad misfortunes than fhe told,
And wept, and with her wept that fhepherd old.
With fpeeches kinde, he gan the virgin deare
Towards his cottage gently home to guide;
His aged wife there made her homely cheare,
Yet welcomde her, and plaft her by her fide.
The Princeffe dond a poore paftoraes geare,
A kerchiefe courfe vpon her head fhe tide;
But yet her geftures and her lookes (I geffe)
Were fuch, as ill befeem'd a fhepherdeffe.
18.
Not thofe rude garments could obfcure, and hide
The heau'nly beautie of her angels face,
Nor was her princely ofspring damnifide,
Or ought difparag'de, by thofe labours bace;
Her little flocks to pafture would the guide,
And milk her goates, and in their folds them place,
Both cheese and butter could fhe make, and frame
Her felfe to please the fhepherd and his dame.
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