60 65 "Farewel, my Delia! O, farewel!" said I, "The utmost period of my time is nigh; "Too cruel Fate forbids my longer stay, "And wretched Strephon is compell'd away. "But tho' I must my native plains forege, "Forsake these fields, forsake my Delia too, "No change of fortune shall for ever move "The settled base of my immortal love." "And must my Strephon, must my faithful swain, "Be forc'd," you cry'd, "to a remoter plain ! "The darling of my soul so soon remov'd! "The only valu'd, and the best belov'd! "Tho' other swains to me themselves addrest, 70 "Strephon was still distinguish'd from the rest; "Flat and insipid all their courtship seem'd ; "Little themselves, their passions less, esteem'd; "For my aversion with their flames increas'd, "And none but Strephon partial Delia pleas'd. 75 "Tho' I'm depriv'd of my kind shepherd's sight, "Joy of the day, and blessing of the night, "Yet will you, Strephon! will you love me still ? "However flatter me, and say you will; "For should you entertain a rival love, "Should you unkind to me, or faithless prove, "No mortal e'er could half so wretched be, "For sure no mortal ever lov'd like me." 86 "Your beauty, Nymph! said I, my faith secures; "Those you once conquer must be always your's : "For hearts subdu'd by your victorious eyes 86 "No force can storm, no stratagem surprise : " Nor can I of captivity complain, "While lovely Delia holds the glorious chain. 95 "The Cyprian queen, in young Adonis' arms, 90 "Might fear, at least, he would despise her charms; "But I can never such a monster prove, "To slight the blessings of my Delia's love. "Would those who at celestial tables sit, "Bless'd with immortal wine, immortal wit, "Chuse to descend to some inferior board, "Which nought but scum and nonsense can afford? "Nor can Le'er to those gay nymphs address, "Whose pride is greater and whose charms are less; "Their tinsel beauty may, perhaps, subdue 100 "A gaudy coxcomb or a fulsome beau, "But seem at best indifferent to me, "Who none but you with admiration see. "Now would the rolling orbs obey my will, "I'd make the sun a second time stand still, 105 "And to the lower world their light repay, "When conqu❜ring Joshua robb'd 'em of a day ; "Tho' our two souls would diff'rent passions prove, "His was a thirst of glory, mine of love. "It will not be ; the sun makes haste to rise, 110. "And take possession of the eastern skies; "Yet one more kiss, tho' millions are too few, "And Delia! since we must, must part, adieu." As Adam, by an injur'd Maker driv’n From Eden's groves the vicinage of heav'n, Compell'd to wander, and oblig'd to bear The harsh impressions of a ruder air, 115 With mighty sorrow and with weeping eyes My native plains, my charming Delia too; } If, as I walk, a pleasant shade I find, 120 125 130 135 140 For ten good thoughts amongst the crowd they vent, Methinks ten thousand are impertinent. Let other shepherds that are prone to range, With each caprice their giddy humours change; Than you alone are capable to give ! 145 Nor will I envy those ill-judging swains 159 UNDER AFFLICTION. NONE lives in this tumultuous state of things, And gloomy thoughts disturb his anxious breast. The happiest man that ever breath'd on earth, 5 15 20 Youth, wit, and beauty, are such charming things, 25 |