PERSONS reprefented.

APOLLO.

PAN.

TIMOLU S, God of the Mountain,

MIDAS.

CALLIOPE.

MELPOMENE.

AGNO,

MELINO E,

SATYRS, &c.

Two Wood-nymphs.

THE

JUDGMENT of MIDA S.

TIMOLUS, MELINOE and AGNO, two Wood-nymphs.

TIMOLUS.

GNO, To-day we wear our acron crown, The parsley wreath be thine; it is most meet We grace the prefence of these rival gods With all the honours of our woodland weeds. Thine was the task, Melinoe, to prepare The turf-built theatre, the boxen bow'r, And all the fylvan scen'ry.

MELINOE.

That task,

Sire of these fhades, is done. On yefter eve,
Affifted by a thousand friendly fays,
While fav'ring Dian held her glitt'ring lamp,

We

We ply'd our nightly toils, nor ply'd we long,
For Art was not the mistress of our revels,
'Twas gentle Nature, whom we jointly woo'd;
She heard, and yielded to the forms we taught her,
Yet still remain'd herself.-----Simplicity,

Fair Nature's genuine daughter, was there too,
So foft, yet fo magnificent of mien,

She fhone all ornament without a gem.
The blithfome Flora, ever sweet and young,
Offer'd her various ftore: We cull'd a few
To robe, and recommend our darkfome verdure,
But fhun'd to be luxuriant.----

TIMOLUS.

It was well. Agno, thy looks are penfive: What dejects Thy pleasure-painted aspect ? Sweetest nymph, That ever trod the turf, or fought the shade, Speak, nor conceal a thought.

AGNO.

King of the woods,

I tremble for the royal arbiter.
'Tis hard to judge, whene'er the great contend,
Sure to displease the vanquish'd: When fuch pow'rs
Contest the laurel with fuch ardent ftrife,

'Tis not the sentence of fair equity,
But 'tis their pleasure that is right or wrong.

TIMOLUS.