Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs adorn the ground; Begin, the vales shall eviy note rebound. STREPHON. Inspire me, Phœbus, in my Delia's praise, With Waller's ftrains, or Granville's moving lays! A milk-white bull shall at your altars stand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rifing fand. DAPHNIS, O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, STREPHON. Me gentle Delia beckens from the plain, Then hid in fhades, eludes her eager swain; But feigns a laugh, to see me fearch 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; 45 so 55 VARIATIONS. VER. 49. Originally thus in the MS. Pan, let my numbers equal Strephon's lays, NOTES. VER. 46. Granville) George Granville, afterwards Lord Lansdown, known for his Poems, most of which he compos'd very young, and propos'd Waller as his model. IMITATIONS. VER 47. A milk-white bull) Virg. Pafcite taurum, While a kind glance at her purfuer flies, STREPHON. O'er golden fands let rich Pactolus flow, And trees weep amber on the banks of Po; Bleft Thames's shores the brightest beauties yield, Feed here my lambs, I'll feek no diftant field. DAPHNIS. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves; STREPHON. ८० 65 All nature mourns, the skies relent in show'rs, Hufh'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flow'rs; If Delia finile, the flow'rs begin to spring, VARIATIONS. VER. 61. It stood thus at first: Let rich Iberia golden fleeces boaft, Her purple wool the proud Affyrian coaft, Bleft Thames's shores, etc. P. VER. 61. Originally thus in the MS. Go, flow'ry wreath, and let my Sylvia know, Compar'd to thine how bright her beauties show: Then die; and dying teach the lovely maid How foon the brightest beauties are decay'd. DAPHNIS. Go, tuneful bird, that pleas'd the woods so long, Of Amaryllis learn a sweeter fong: To Heav'n arifing then her notes convey, For Heav'n alone is worthy fuch a lay. IMITATIONS. VER. 58. She runs, but hopes (Imitation of Virgil, Et fugit ad falices, fed fe cupit ante videri. 71 DAPHNIS, All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, The Sun's mild luftre warns the vital air; If Sylvia finiles, 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 fight, 75 Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. 80 DAPHNIS. Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, Say, Daphnis, say, in what glad foil appears, VARIATIONS. VER. 69, etc. These verses were thus at first: All nature mourns, the birds their fongs deny, NOTES. VER. 86. A wondrous Tree that sacred Monarchs bears.) An allusion to the Royal Ork, in wich Charles II. had been hid from the pursuit after the battle of Worcester. IMITATIONS. VER. 69. All nature mourns.) Aret ager, vitio moriens fitit aëris herba, etc. Virg. A Tell me but this, and I'll difclain the prize, DAPHNIS. Nay tell me first, in what more happy fields The Thiftle springs, to which de Lily yields: And then a nobler prize I will refign'; For Sylvia, charming Sylvia shall be thine. DAMON. 90 Cease to contend, for, Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee: Bleft Swains, whose Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel; Bleft Nymphs, whose Swains those graces sing so well! Now rife, and hafte to yonder woodbine bow'rs, The turf with rural dainties shall be crown'd, For fee! the gath'ring flocks to shelter tend, VARIATIONS. VER. 99. was originally, The turf with country dainties thall be spread, IMITATIONS. 1 96 ΙΟΙ 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 infcripti nomina Regum Nafcantur Nores, & Phyllida folus habeto. A Shepherd's, Boy (he feeks no better name) Led forth his flocks along the filver Thame, Where dancing fun beams on the waters play'd, S VARIATIONS. VER. 1, 2, 3, 4. were thus printed in the first edition: 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. SNOTES. VER. 3. The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide; suise able to the heat of the feafon, the time noon. IMITATIONS. VER. 8. And Jove consented) Jupiter & ato defcender plurimus imbri. Virg |