Th' industrious bees neglect their golden store; Or, hush'd with wonder, hearken from the sprays; › 55 "Fair Daphne's dead, and music is no more!" 65 Her fate is whisper'd by the gentle breeze, And told in sighs to all the trembling trees; The trembling trees, in ev'ry plain and wood, Her fate remurmur to the silver flood; -65 Swell'd with new passion, and o'erflows with tears; The winds, and trees, and floods, her death deplore,--Daphne, our grief, our glory now no more! But see! where Daphne wond'ring mounts on high 70 Above the clouds, above the starry sky! 75 Lyc. How all things listen, while thy muse complains! Such silence waits on Philomela's strains, In some still ev'ning, when the whisp'ring breeze To thee, bright Goddess! oft a lamb shall bleed, Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay, 90 Volume I. I MESSIAH. A SACRED ECLOGUE, IN IMITATION OF VIRGIL'S POLLIO. Advertisement. In reading several passages of the Prophet Isaiah, which foretel the coming of Christ, and the felicities attending it, I could not but observe a remarks able parity between many of the thoughts and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but selected such ideas as best agreed with the nature of pastoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served most to beautify his piece. I have endeavoured the same in this Imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; since it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the several thoughts, might see how far the images and descriptions of the Prophet are superior to those of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the passages of Isaiah, and those of Virgil, under the same disadvantage of a literal translation. P. YE Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: Rapt into future times, the bard begun : IMITATIONE. Ver. 8. A Virgin shall conceive---All crimes shall cease, &c.] Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 6. Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna; Jam nova progenies caelo demittitur alto. Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri, From Jesse's root, behold a branch arise, Whose sacred flow'r with fragance fills the skies: 10 And on its top descends the mystic dove. IMITATIONS. 15 20 "Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now "new progeny is sent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever * relics of our crimes remain shall be wiped away, and free the world from 46 perpetual fears. He shall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of "his father." Isaíah, ch. vii. ver. 14. “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son." Chap. ix. ver. 6, 7. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the "Prince of Peace: of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there "shall be no end: upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order " and to establish it, with judgment, and with Justice, for eyer and ever." P. Ver. 23. See Nature hastes, &c.] Virg. Ecl. iv. 18. At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscuja cultu, Ipsa tibi blandos fundent cunabula flores. "For thee, O child, shall the earth, without being tilled, produce her "early offerings; winding ivy, mixed with baccar, and colocasia, with smiling "acanthus. Thy cradle shall pour forth pleasing flowers about thee." Isaiah, ch. xxxv. ver. 1. "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be * Isa, xi. ver. 1. † Ch. xlv. ver. 8. ‡ Ch. xxv. vèr. ¿. Ch. ix. ver. 7. * See lofty Lebanon his head advance, IMITATIONS. 25 30 35 40 as,the glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as, the rose." Ch. Ix. ver. 13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of thy sanctuary." P. Ver. 29. Hark! a glad voice, &c,] Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 46. Aggredere O magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores, Cara deum soboles, magnum Jovis incrementum-- Ipsi laetitia voces ad sidera jactant Intonsi montes, ipsae jam carmina rupes, Ipsa sonant arbusta, Deus, Deus ille Menaica! Ecl. v. vet. 62. Oh come and receive the mighty honours: the time draws nich, O be"loved offspring of the gods, O great increase of Jove! The uncultivated mountains send shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks sing in verse, the very shrubs cry ou, a God, a God!" Isaiah, chap. xl. ver. 3, 4. The voice of him that crieth in the wilder. ness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a high way for our God! Every valley shall be exaited, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ❝ places plain." Chap. iv. ver. 23. Break forth into singing, ye Mountains! O Forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Israel.'' P. * Chap. xxxv. ver. 2. + Ch. xl. ver. 3, 4. |