STREPHON.

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

55

DAPHNIS.

The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green,
She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen ;
While a kind glance at her pursuer flies,
How much at variance are her feet and eyes!

60

STREPHON.

O'er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow, And trees weep amber on the banks of Po;

VARIATIONS,
Ver. 61. It stood thus at first,

Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boast,
Her purple wool the proud Affyrian coast,

Blest Thames's shores, &c.
Ver. 61. Originally thus in the MS.

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

DAPHNIS.

Go, tuneful bird, that pleas'd the woods fo long,
Of Amaryllis learn a sweeter song ;
To Heav'n arising then her notes convey,
For Heav'n alone is worthy such a lay. WARBURTON.

REMARKS. Ver. 60. How much at variance] A very trifling and false conceit, and too witty for the occasion.

WÁRTON. IMITATIONS. VER. 58. She runs, but hopes] Imitation of Virgil, “ Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella, Et fugit ad salices, fed fe cupit ante xideri." Pope, F 3

Bright

,1

65

Bright Thames's shores the brightest beauties yield,
Feed here my lambs, I'll seek no distant field.

DAPHNIS.
Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves;
Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves;
If Windsor-shades delight the matchless maid,
Cynthus and Hybla yield to Windfor-shade.

STREPHON.
All nature mourns, the skies relent in show'rs,
Hush'd are the birds, and clos’d the drooping flow'rs;
If Delia smile, the flow’rs begin to spring, 71
The skies to brighten, and the birds to fing.

DAPHNIS.

All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, The Sun's mild lustre warms the vital air ; If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore, 75 And vanquish'd nature seems to charm no more.

STREPHON. In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, But Delia always; absent from her sight, Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. 80

VARIATIONS.
Ver. 69, &c. These verses were thus at first :

All nature mourns, the birds their songs deny,
Nor wasted brooks the thirsty Bow'rs supply;
If Delia smile, the flow'rs begin to spring,
The brooks to murmur, and the birds to fing. Pope

IMITATIONS.
VER. 69. All nature mourns, ]

“ Aret ager, vitio moriens fitit aëris herba," &c.
“ Phyllidis adventu noftræ nemus omne virebit." Virg. Pope.

Sylvia's

DAPHNIS.

Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; Ev’n spring displeases, when the shines not here; But blest with her, 'tis spring throughout the year.

STREPHON.

85

Say, Daphnis, say, in what glad foil appears, A wondrous Tree that facred Monarchs bears; Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conquest to thy Sylvia's eyes.

DAPHNIS,

90

Nay tell me first, in what more happy fields
The Thistle springs, to which the Lily yields :
And then a nobler prize I will resign;
For Sylvia, charming Sylvia shall be thine.

DAMON.

Cease to contend, for, Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee:

of

REMARKS. Ver. 86. A wondrous Tree that sacred Monarchs bears ;) An allusion to the Royal Oak, in whích Charles II. had been hid froni the pursuit after the battle at Worcester.

Pope. This is one of the most trifling and puerile concerts in any our author's works; except what follows of the Thistle and the Lily.

WARTON. Ver. 93. Cease to contend,] An author of strong sense, Dr. Johnson, says, “ That every intelligent reader fickens at the

mention IMITATIONS. Ver. 90. The Thiflle Springs, to which the Lily yields :] Alludes to the device of the Scots Monarchs, the Thistle, worn by Queen Anne; and to the arms of France, the Fleur de lys. The two siddles are in imitation of those in Virg. Ecl. iii.

“ Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina Regum
Nascantur Flores, et Phyllida solus habeto." Pope.

Bleft

F4

Blest Swains, whose Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel; 95
Blest Nymphs, whose Swains those graces sing so well!
Now rise, and haste to yonder woodbine bow'rs,
A soft retreat from sudden vernal fhow'rs;
The turf with rural dainties shall be crown'd,
While op’ning blooms diffuse their sweets around.
For see! the gath’ring flocks to shelter tend,
And from the Pleiads fruitful show'rs defcend.

VARIATIONS.
VER. 99. was originally,

The turf with country dainties shall be spread,
And trees with twining branches (hade your head.

Pope.

REMARKS.

mention of the crook and the pipe, the sheep and the kids." This appears to be an unjust and harsh condemnation of all Pastoral Poetry.

WARTON. Surely Dr. Johnson's decrying the affected introduction of the " crook and pipe,” &c. into English Pastorals, is not a condemnation of all Pastoral Poetry. Dr. Johnson certainly could not very highly relish this species of Poetry, witness his harsh criticisms on Milton's exquisite Lycidas, &c. but we almost forgive his severity on several genuine pieces of poetic excellence, when we consider that he has done a service to truth and nature, in speaking vith a proper and dignified contempt of such trite puerilities.

SUMMER:

THE SECOND PASTORAL.

OR

ALEXIS.

TO DR. GARTH.

A Shepherd's Boy (he seeks no better name)

Led forth his flocks along the silver Thame, Where dancing sun-beams on the waters play'd, And verdant alders form’d a quiv'ring shade.

VARIATIONS.
Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, were thus printed in the first edition :

A faithful swain, whom Love had taught to fing,
Bewail'd his fate beside a silver spring ;
Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads

Thro' verdant forests, and thro' flow'ry meads. Popes Ver. 3. Originally thus in the MS.

There to the winds he plain's his hapless love,
And Amaryllis fill'd the vocal grove. WARBURTON.

REMARKS. VER. 3. The Scene of this Pastoral by the river side, suitable to the heat of the season; the Time, noon.

Pope.

IMITATIONS.
Ver. 1. Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar, January :

A shepherd's boy, (no better do bim call,)
When Winter's wasteful spight was almost spent,
All in a fun-fhine day, as did befall,
Led forth his flock, that had been long ypent

Soft