DAPHNIS. And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, DAMON. Then sing by turns, by turns the Muses sing, Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring, Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs adorn the ground; Begin, the vales shall ev'ry note rebound. STREPHON. Inspire me, Phoebus, in my Delia's praise, NOTES. 35 40 45 Ver. 38. The various seasons, &c.] The subject of these Pastorals engraven on the bowl is not without its propriety.-Warburton. My friend Mr. William Collins, author of the Persian Eclogues and Odes, assured me that Thomson informed him, that he took the first hint and idea of writing his Seasons, from the titles of Pope's four Pastorals. So that these Pastorals have not had only the merit of setting a pattern for correct and musical versification; but have given rise to some of the truest poetry in our language.—Warton. Ver. 41. sing by turns,] Amabæan verses, and the custom of vying in extempore verses, by turns, was derived from the old Sicilian shepherds, and spread over all Italy; and is, as Mr. Spence observes, exactly like the practice of the Improvisatori at present in Italy.—Warton. Ver. 46. Granville] George Granville, afterwards Lord Lansdown, VARIATIONS. Ver. 36. And clusters lurk beneath the curling vines.-P. This line was probably rejected from its resembling too nearly Dryden. The "Grapes in clusters lurk beneath the vines." Dryden's Translation of Virgil's Eclogues.--Bowles. Ver. 35, 36. IMITATIONS. "Lenta quibus torno facili superaddita vitis, Diffusos edera vestit pallente corymbos." Virg. The Shepherd's hesitation at the name of the Zodiac imitates that in Virgil, "Et quis fuit alter, Descripsit radio totum qui gentibus orbem ?"-P. Et nunc omnis ager, nunc omnis parturit arbos, A milk-white Bull shall at your altars stand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand. DAPHNIS. O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, 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. DAPHNIS. The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green, STREPHON. O'er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow, And trees weep amber on the banks of Po; NOTES. 50 55 60 known for his poems, most of which he composed very young, and proposed Waller as his model.-P. VARIATIONS. Ver 49. Originally thus in the MS. Pan, let my numbers equal Strephon's lays, Of Parian stone thy statue will I raise; But if I conquer and augment my fold, Thy Parian statue shall be chang'd to gold.-Warburton. 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.-P. Ver. 61. Originally thus in the MS. Go, flow'ry wreath, and let my Silvia know, Ver. 47. A milk-white Bull] Virg. IMITATIONS. "Pascite taurum, Qui cornu petat, et pedibus jam spargat arenam.”—P. Ver. 58. She runs, but hopes] Imitation of Virgil, "Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella, Et fugit ad salices, sed se cupit ante videri."-P. Bright Thames's shores the brightest beauties yield, DAPHNIS. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; If Windsor-shades delight the matchless maid, 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, The skies to brighten, and the birds to sing. DAPHNIS. All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore, 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. DAPHNIS. Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; VARIATIONS. Then die; and dying teach the lovely maid 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.-Warburton. Ver. 69, &c. These verses were thus at first : All nature mourns, the birds their songs deny, If Delia smile, the flow'rs begin to spring, Ver. 69. All nature mourns,] IMITATIONS. "Aret ager, vitio moriens sitit aëris herba," &c. 66 Phyllidis adventu nostræ nemus omne virebit.” Virg.—P. 65 75 80 Ev'n spring displeases, when she shines not here; STREPHON. Say, Daphnis, say, in what glad soil appears, 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: 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. 85 90 Blest Swains, whose Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel; A soft retreat from sudden vernal show'rs; While op'ning blooms diffuse their sweets around. 100 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.-P. Ver. 99. was originally, VARIATIONS. The turf with country dainties shall be spread, And trees with twining branches shade your head.-P. IMITATIONS. 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. 66 Dic quibus in terris inscripti nomina Regum SUMMER: THE SECOND PASTORAL, OR ALEXIS. TO DR. GARTH. A SHEPHERD's Boy (he seeks no better name) Accept, O GARTH! the Muse's early lays, NOTES. 5 10 Ver. 3. The Scene of this Pastoral by the river-side, suitable to the heat of the season; the Time, noon.-P. Ver. 9. Dr. Samuel Garth, author of the Dispensary, was one of the VARIATIONS. Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, were thus printed in the first edition: A faithful swain, whom Love had taught to sing, Ver. 3. Originally thus in the MS. There to the winds he plain'd his hapless love, IMITATIONS. Ver. 1. Spenser's Shepherd's Calendar, January : A shepherd's boy (no better do him call), When Winter's wasteful spight was almost spent, Led forth his flock, that had been long ypent.-Bowles. Ver. 8. And Jove consented] 66 Jupiter et læto descendet plurimus imbri." Virg.-P. |