Thus fung the fhepherds till th' approach of night, The skies yet blushing with departing light, When falling dews with fpangles deck'd the glade, And the low fun had lengthen'd ev'ry fhade. ioo REMARK S. VER. 98. 100.] There is a little inaccuracy here; the firft linc makes the time after fun-fet; the fecond before. (83) WINTER: THE FOURTH PASTORAL, OR, DAPHNE. To the Memory of Mrs. TEM PES T. TH LYCIDAS. HYRSIS, the music of that murm'ring spring Is not fo mournful as the strains you fing. Nor rivers winding through the vales below, So fweetly warble, or so smoothly flow. REMARK S. WINTER.] This was the Poet's favourite Paftoral. Mrs. Tempeft.] This Lady was of an ancient family in Yorkshire, and particularly admired by the Author's friend Mr. Walsh, who, having celebrated her in a Paftoral Elegy, IMITATIONS. VER. I. Thyrfis, the music, etc.] Αδύ τι, etc. Theocr. Id. i. Now fleeping flocks on their foft fleeces lie, THYR SIS. 5 Behold the groves that shine with filver froft, Their beauty wither'd, and their verdure loft. 10 Here fhall I try the sweet Alexis' strain, That call'd the lift'ning Dryads to the plain? Thames heard the numbers as he flow'd along, And bade his willows learn the moving fong. REMARK S. defired his friend to do the fame, as appears from one of his Letters, dated Sept. 9, 1706. "Your laft Eclogue being on "the fame fubject with mine on Mrs. Tempeft's death, I "fhould take it very kindly in you to give it a little turn, as "if it were to the memory of the fame lady." Her death having happened on the night of the great ftorm in 1703, gave a propriety to this eclogue, which in its general turn alludes to it. The fcene of the Paftoral lies in a grove, the time at midnight. P. VER. 9. fine with filver froft,] The image is a fine one, but improperly placed. The idea he would raise is the deformity of Winter, as appears by the following line: but this imagery contradicts it. It should have been--glare with hoary froft, or fome fuch expreffion: the fame inaccuracy in ver. 31, where he ufes pearls, when he fhould have faid tears. IMITATIONS. VER, 13. Thames heard, etc.] Audiit Eurotas, juffitque edifcere lauros. Virg. P. So may LYCIDA S. kind rains their vital moisture yield, 15 And fwell the future harvest of the field. THYRS I S. Ye gentle Muses, leave your crystal spring, Let Nymphs and Sylvans cyprefs garlands bring; Ye weeping Loves, the ftream with myrtles hide, And break your bows, as when Adonis dy'd ; And with your golden darts, now useless grown, 25 Inscribe a verse on this relenting stone: "Let nature change, let heav'n and earth deplore, "Fair Daphne's dead, and love is now no more!" "Tis done, and nature's various charms decay, Seegloomy clouds obfcure the chearful day! 30 VARIATIONS. VER. 29. Originally thus in the MS. 'Tis done, and nature's chang'd fince you are gone; IMITATION S. VER. 23, 24, 25. Inducite fontibus umbras→→ Et tumulum facite, et tumulo fuperaddite carmen. P. Now hung with pearls the dropping trees appear, 35 For her the flocks refufe their verdant food, The thirsty heifers fhun the gliding flood, The filver swans her hapless fate bemoan, In notes more fad than when they fing their own; In hollow caves fweet Echo filent lies, Silent, or only to her name replies; Her name with pleasure once she taught the fhore, Now Daphne's dead, and pleasure is no more! No grateful dews defcend from ev'ning skies, 45 Nor morning odours from the flow'rs arise; No rich perfumes refresh the fruitful field, Nor fragrant herbs their native incense yield. The balmy Zephyrs, filent fince her death, Lament the ceafing of a fweeter breath; Th' industrious bees neglect their golden store! Fair Daphne's dead, and sweetness is no more! No more the mounting larks, while Daphne fings, Shall lift'ning in mid-air fufpend their wings; I 50 |