various changes and aspects. Yet the scrupulous division of his pastorals into months, has obliged him either to repeat the same description, in other words, for three months together; or, when it was exhausted before, entirely to omit it: whence it comes to pass that some of his Eclogues (as the sixth, eighth, and tenth, for example) have nothing but their titles to distinguish them. The reason is evident, because the year has not that variety in it to furnish every month with a particular description, as it may every season. Of the following Eclogues I shall only say, that these four comprehend all the subjects which the critics upon Theocritus and Virgil will allow to be fit for pastoral: that they have as much variety of description, in respect of the several seasons, as Spenser's: that in order to add to this variety, the several times of the day are observed, the rural employments in each season or time of day, and the rural scenes or places proper to such employments; not without some regard to the several ages of man, and the different passions proper to each age. But after all, if they have any merit, it is to be attributed to some good old authors, whose works as I had leisure to study, so I hope I have not wanted care to imitate. SPRING: THE FIRST PASTORAL. * OR DAMON. TO SIR WILLIAM TRUMBAL.. FIRST in these fields I try the sylvan strains, Nor blush to sport on Windsor's blissful plains: Fair Thames, flow gently from thy sacred spring, While on thy banks Sicilian muses sing; Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play, And Albion's cliffs resound the rural lay... You, that too wise for pride, too good for pow'r, Enjoy the glory to be great no more, 5 And * These Pastorals were written at the age of sixteen, and then passed through the hands of Mr. Walsh, Mr. Wycherley, G. Granville afterwards Lord Lansdown, Sir William Trumbal, Dr. Garth, Lord Hallifax, Lord Somers, Mr. Mainwaring, and others. All these gave our author the greatest encouragement, and particularly Mr. Walsh, whom Mr. Dryden, in his Postscript to Virgil, calls the best critic of his age. Sir William Trumbal.] Our author's friendship with this gentleman commenced at very unequal years; he was under sixteen, but Sir William above sixty, and had lately resigned his employment of Secretary of State to King William. And carrying with you all the world can boast, O let my Muse her slender reed inspire, 10 15 Soon as the flocks shook off the nightly dews, Two swains, whom Love kept wakeful, and the Muse, Pour'd o'er the whit'ning vale their fleecy care, Fresh as the morn, and as the season fair : The dawn now blushing on the mountain's side, Thus Daphnis spoke, and Strephon thus reply'd. DAPHNIS. Hear how the birds, on ev'ry blooming spray, With joyous music wake the dawning day! Why sit we mute, when early linnets sing, When warbling Philomel salutes the spring? Why sit we sad, when Phosphor shines so clear, And lavish Nature paints the purple year? STREPHON. Sing then, and Damon shall attend the strain, While yon' slow oxen turn the furrow'd plain. Here the bright crocus and blue vi’let glow, Here western winds on breathing roses blow. 20 25 30 I'll VER. 12. in your native shades] Sir W. Trumbal was born in Windsor-forest, to which he retreated, after he had resigned the post of Secretary of State of King William III. I'll stake yon' lamb, that near the fountain plays, DAPHNIS. And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, DAMON. 35 40 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, Phœbus, in my Delia's praise, With Waller's strains, or Granville's moving lays! 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, 45 And make my tongue victorious as her eyes : 50 No lambs or sheep for victims I'll impart, Thy victim, Love, shall be the shepherd's heart. STRE VER. 46. Granville-] George Granville, afterwards Lord Lansdown, known for his poems, most of which he composed very young, and proposed Waller as his model, 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, 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! 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. DAPHNIS. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; If Windsor-shades delight the matchless maid, STREPHON. 55 бо 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. All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, The sun's mild lustre warms the vital air; 71 |