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But feigns a laugh to see me search around,
And by that laugh the willing fair is found.

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,

55

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; Bright Thames's shores the brightest beauties

yield,

Feed here my lambs, I'll seek no distant field.

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 61. It stood thus at first,

Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boast,

Her purple wool the proud Assyrian coast,
Blest Thames's shores, &c.

Ver. 61. Originally thus in the MS.

Go, flow'ry wreath, and let my Silvia know,

P.

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 so long,

Of Amaryllis learn a sweeter song;

To Heav'n arising then her notes convey,
For Heav'n alone is worthy such a lay.

IMITATIONS.

Ver. 58. She runs, but hopes] Imitation of Virgil, "Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella,

Et fugit ad salices, sed se cupit ante videri."

Warburton.

P.

DAPHNIS.

Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves;
Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves;

If Windsor-shades delight the matchless maid,
Cynthus and Hybla yield to Windsor-shade.

STREPHON.

65

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,

The skies to brighten, and the birds to sing.

DAPHNIS.

70

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,
And vanquish'd nature seems to charm no more.

STREPHON.

75

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 flow'rs supply;
If Delia smile, the flow'rs begin to spring,
The brooks to murmur, and the birds to sing.

IMITATIONS.

Ver. 69. All nature mourns,]

"Aret ager, vitio moriens sitit aëris herba," &c.

P.

66

Phyllidis adventu nostræ nemus omne virebit."

Virg.

P.

DAPHNIS.

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

STREPHON.

Say, Daphnis, say, in what glad soil appears, 85 A wondrous Tree that sacred Monarchs bears; Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conquest to thy Sylvia's eyes.

DAPHNIS.

Nay tell me first, in what more happy fields The Thistle springs, to which the Lily yields: 90 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.
Blest Swains, whose Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel;
Blest Nymphs, whose Swains those graces sing so
well!

NOTES.

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

IMITATIONS.

P.

Ver. 90. The Thistle 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 riddles are in imitation of those in Virg. Ecl. iii.

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

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P.

Now rise, and haste to yonder woodbine bow'rs,
A soft retreat from sudden vernal show'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 descend.

Ver. 99. was originally,

VARIATIONS.

The turf with country dainties shall be spread,

And trees with twining branches shade your head. P.

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.

NOTES.

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

VARIATIONS.

Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, were thus printed in the first edition :
A faithful swain, whom Love had taught to sing,
Bewail'd his fate beside a silver spring;

Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads
Thro' verdant forests, and thro' flow'ry meads.

Ver. 3. Originally thus in the MS.

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

IMITATIONS.

Ver. 1. Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar, January:
A shepherd's boy (no better do him call,)

P.

P.

Warburton.

When Winter's wasteful spight was almost spent,
All in a sun-shine day, as did befall,

Led forth his flock, that had been long ypent.

Bowles.

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