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MESSIAH.

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Sacred ECLOGUE,

In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

In reading feveral passages of the Prophet Ifaiah, which foretell

the coming of Chrift and the felicities attending it, I could not but obferve a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not feem surprising, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the fame fubject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but felected fuch ideas as best agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and difpofed them in that manner which ferved moft to beautify his piece. I have endeavoured the fame in this imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; fince it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the feveral thoughts, might fee how far the images and defcriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to those of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall fubjoin the passages of Haiah, and those of Virgil, under the fame disadvantage of a literal translation.

P.

MESSIAH.

A

SACRED ECLOGUE,

In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

TE Nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong:

Y

To heav'nly themes fublimer strains belong,
The mofly fountains, and the sylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids.
Delight no more - O thou my voice inspire
Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the Bard begun:
A Virgin shall conceive, A Virgin bear a Son!
From Jeffe's root behold a branch arise,

IMITATIONS.

VER. 8. A Virgin shall conceive

VIRG. E. iv. v 6.

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All crimes shall cease, etc.)

Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;
Jam nova Progenies coælo demittitur alto.
Te duce, si qua manent fceleris vestigia noftri,
Irrita perpetua folvent formidine terras

Pacatumque rege: patriis virtutibus orbem.

Now the Virgin retourns, now the kingdom of Sature returns, now a new progeny is fent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain, shall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his Father. 4) Ifai, xi. v Ι.

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Whose sacred flow'r with fragrance fills the skies:
Th' Ætherial spirit o'er its leaves shall move,
And on its top descends the mystic Dove.
Ye Heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in soft filence shed the kindly show'r!
The fick and weak the healing plant shall aid, 15
From storms a shelter, and from heat a fhade.
All crimes shall cease, and ancient fraud shall fail;

Returning d Justice lift aloft her scale;
Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white rob'd Innocence from heav'n defcend.
Swift fly the years, and rife th' expected morn! 21
Oh spring to light, aufpicious Babe, be born!
See Nature haftes her earliest wreaths to bring,
With all the incense of the breathing spring:
See lofry Lebanon his head advance,

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IMITATIONS.

دو

ISAIAH, Ch. vii. v14. Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son. Chap, ix. v 6, 7. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the Prince of Peace of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end: Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to stablish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever and ever.

VER. 23. See nature hastes, etc.)

VIRG. E. iv. v 18.

At tibi prima, puer, nullo munufcula cultu,
Errantes hederas paffim cum baccare tellus,
Mixtaque ridenti colocafia fundet acantho -

Ipsa tibi blandes fundent cunabula fiores.

„For thee, O Child, fhall the earth, without being tilled, „produce her early offerings, winding ivy, mixed with Baccar, and Colocasia with smiling Acanthus, Thy cradle shall pour forth pleafing flowers about thee.

Ch.xiv. v8. c Ch. xxv, v 4. d Ch. ix. v 7. e Ch. xxxv. v2.

See nodding forests on the mountains dance:
See spicy clouds from lowly Saron rife,
And Carinel's flow'ry top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely defert chears;
Prepare the f way! a God, a God appears:
A God, a God! the vocal hills reply,
The rocks proclaim th' approaching Deity.
Lo, earth receives him from the bending skies!
Sink down, ye mountains, and, ye valleys, rife;
With heads declin'd, ye cedars, homage pay;

IMITATIONS.

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ISAIAH, Ch. xxxv. v I. „The wilderness and the folitary place shall be glad, and the defert shall rejoice and blossom as ,,the rofe." Ch. ix. v 13. „The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautifythe place of thy fanctuary.

VER. 29. Hark! a glad Voice, etc.)

VIRG. E. iv. v 46.

Aggredere o magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores,
Cara deum foboles, magnum Jovis incrementum

Ipsi lætitia voces ad fydera jactant

Intonfi montes, ipfæ jam carmina rupes,

Ipsa fonant arbusta, Deus, deus ille Menalca! E. v. v 62. „Oh come and receive the mighty honours: the time draws nigh, O beloved offspring of the Gods, O great increase of Jove! The uncultivated mountains fend shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks fing in verse, the very shrubs cry out, A God, a God!

ISAIAH, Ch. xi. v. 3, 4. „The voice of him that cryeth ,,in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord! (make ftrait in the defert a high way for our God! Every valley shall be „exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and ,,the crooked fhall be made strait, and the rough places plain." Ch. iv. v 23. „Break forth into finging, ye mountains! O forest, and every tree therein! for the Lord hath redeemed Ifrael. f Ch. xl. v3.4.

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