Through these a river rolls its winding flood,
Adorn'd with various tufts of rifing wood;
Here half conceal'd in trees a cottage stands,
A castle there the op'ning plain commands,
Beyond, a town with glitt'ring fpires is crown'd,
And diftant hills the wide horizon bound;
So charming was the fcene, awhile the fwain
Beheld delighted, and forgot his pain;
But foon the ftings infix'd within his heart,
With cruel force renew'd their raging smart;
His flow'ry wreath, which long with pride he wore,
The gift of Delia, from his brows he tore :
Then cry'd; May all thy charms, ungrateful maid,
Like thefe neglected rofes droop and fade;
May angry Heav'n deform each guilty grace,
That triumphs now in that deluding face;
Thofe alter'd looks may every fhepherd fly,
And ev❜n thy Daphnis hate thee worse than I!
Say, thou inconftant, what has Damon done,
To lose the heart his tedious pains had won ?
Tell me what charms you in my rival find,
Against whose power no ties have strength to bind;
Has he, like me, with long obedience trove
To conquer your difdain, and merit love?
Has he with transport every smile ador'd,
And dy'd with grief at each ungentle word?
Ah, no! the conqueft was obtain'd with ease:
He pleas'd you, by not studying to please ;
His careless indolence your pride alarm'd;
And had he lov'd you more, he lefs had charm'd.
O pain to think, another shall poffefs
Those balmy lips which I was wont to press:
Another on her panting breaft fhall lie,
And catch fweet madnefs from her fwimming eye!
I faw their friendly flocks together feed,
I faw them hand in hand walk o'er the mead:
Would my clos'd eyes had funk in endless night,
Ere I was doom'd to bear that hateful fight!
Where'er they pass'd be blafted every flow'r,
And hungry wolves their helpless flocks devour!-
Ah wretched fwain! could no examples move
Thy heedless heart to fhun the rage of Love?
Haft thou not heard how poor ↳ Menalcas dy'd
A victim to Parthenia's fatal pride?
Dear was the youth to all the tuneful plain,
Lov'd by the nymphs, by Phoebus lov'd in vain :
Around his tomb their tears the Muses paid,
And all things mourn'd but the relentless maid.
Would I could die like him, and be at peace!
These torments in the quiet grave would ceafe;
There my vex'd thoughts a calm repofe would find,
And rest as if my Delia ftill were kind.
No, let me live her falfhood to upbraid;
Some god perhaps my juft revenge will aid.-
Alas! what aid, fond fwain, wouldst thou receive?
Could thy heart bear to fee its Delia grieve?"
Protect her, Heav'n, and let her never know
The flightest part of hapless Damon's woe:
I ask no vengeance from the pow'rs above;
All I implore is never more to love-
Let me this fondness from my bofom tear,
Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair.
Come, cool Indifference, and heal my breast;
Wearied, at length I feek thy downy rest:
No turbulence of paffion fhall destroy
My future ease with flatt'ring hopes of joy.
Hear, mighty Pan, and all ye Sylvans hear,
What by your guardian deities I swear;
No more my eyes shall view her fatal charms,
No more I'll court the trait'refs to my arms
Not all her arts my fteady foul shall move,
And she shall find that Reason conquers Love.-
Scarce had he spoke, when through the lawn below
Alone he faw the beauteous Delia go;
At once transported he forgot his vow,
(Such perjuries the laughing gods allow)
Down the steep hills with ardent hafte he flew ;
He found her kind, and foon believ'd her true.
OBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,
Whole guiding judgment gives me fkill to fing s
Though far unequal to thofe polish'd strains,
With which thy Congreve charm'd the lift'ning plains,
Yet fhall its mufic please thy partial ear,
And footh thy breast with thoughts that once were dear;
Recall those years which time has thrown behind,
When smiling Love with Honour fhar'd thy mind:
The fweet remembrance fhall thy youth reftore,
Fancy again fhall run paft pleasures o'er,
And while in Stow's enchanting walks you ftray,
This theme may help to cheat the fummer's day.
Beneath the covert of a myrtle wood,
To Venus rais'd, a ruftic altar ftood,
To Venus and to Hymen, there combin❜d,
In friendly league to favour human kind.
With wanton Cupids in that happy fhade,
The gentle Virtues, and mild Wisdom play'd.
a The Author's Uncle. He died at Stow, September 13, 1749.
Nor there in sprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk'd fick Difguft, or late-repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Int'reft, join'd unwilling hands,
But Love confenting ty'd the blissful bands.
Thither with glad devotion Damon came,
To thank the pow'rs who blefs'd his faithful flame;
Two milk-white doves he on their altar laid,
And thus to both his grateful homage paid:
Hail, bounteous god, before whofe hallow'd fhrine
My Delia vow'd to be for ever mine,
While glowing in her cheeks, with tender love,
Sweet virgin modefty reluctant ftrove":
And hail to thee, fair queen of young defires,
Long fhall my heart preferve thy pleafing fires,
Since Delia now can all its warmth return,
As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn.
O the dear gloom of last propitious night!
O fhade more charming than the fairest light!
Then in my arms I clafp'd the melting maid,
Then all my pains one moment overpaid;
Then firft the sweet excefs of bliss I prov'd,
Which none can tafte but who like me have lov'd.
Thou too, bright goddefs, once in Ida's grove,
Didft not disdain to meet a fhepherd's love,
With him while frisking lambs around you play'd,
Conceal'd you sported in the secret shade;
Scarce could Anchifes' raptures equal mine,
And Delia's beauties only yield to thine.
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