A 'DAMON. PASTORAL.' [WRITTEN AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN.] BY ALEXANDER POPE, ESQ.* TO SIR WILLIAM TRUMBAL. FIRST in thefe fields I try the fylvan strains, You that, too wife for pride, too good for pow'r, 10 O let my Mufe her flender reed infpire, 20 Pour'd o'er the whitening vale their fleecy care, DAPHNIS. Hear how the birds, on every bloomy spray, With joyous mufick wake the dawning day! Why fit we mute, when early linnets fing, When warbling Philomel falutes the spring? Why fit we fad, when Phosphor shines fo clear, And lavish Nature paints the purple year? 25 STREPHON. Sing then, and Damon shall attend the strain, While yon' flow oxen turn the furrow'd plain. 30 Here the bright crocus and blue vi'let glow; Here western winds on breathing roses blow. I'll stake yon' lamb, that near the fountain plays, And from the brink his dancing fhade furveys. DAPHNIS. And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, 35 And fwelling clusters bend the curling vines : Four figures rifing from the work appear, The various feasons of the rolling year; And what is that, which binds the radiant sky, Where twelve fair figns in beauteous order lie? DAMON. Then fing by turns, by turns the Muses fing, Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring, Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs adorn the ground; Begin, the vales fhall ev'ry note rebound. STREPHON. Inspire me, Phœbus, in my Delia's praise, 45 With Waller's ftrains, or Granville's moving lays! A milk-white bull fhall at your altars ftand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand. DAPHNIS. O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, 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. STREPHON. Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in shades, eludes her eager fwain; But feigns a laugh, to fee me search around, 55 And by that laugh the willing fair is found. DAPHNIS. The fprightly Sylvia trips along the green, She runs, but hopes she does not run unfeen; While a kind glance at her pursuer flies, How much at variance are her feet and eyes! 60 STREPHON. O'er golden fands let rich Pactolus flow, And trees weep amber on the banks of Po; Bleft Thames's fhores the brightest beauties yield, Feed here my lambs, I'll feek no distant field. DAPHNIS. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; If Windsor shades delight the matchless maid, STREPHON. 65 All nature mourns, the skies relent in fhow'rs, Hufh'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flow'rs; If Delia fmile, the flow'rs begin to spring, The skies to brighten, and the birds to fing. DAPHNIS. 71 All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, The fun's mild luftre warms the vital air; 75 If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore, STREPHON. In fpring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, But Delia always; abfent from her fight, Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight、 DAPHNIS. Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; E'en spring displeases, when she shines not here; But, blefs'd with her, 'tis spring throughout the year. STREPHON. Say, Daphnis, fay, in what glad foil appears, A wondrous Tree that facred Monarchs bears: 86 Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conqueft to thy Sylvia's eyes. DAPHNIS. Nay, tell me firft, in what more happy fields The Thistle springs, to which the Lilly yields: 90 And then a nobler prize I will refign; For Sylvia, charming Sylvia, fhall be thine. DAMON. Ceafe to contend; for, Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee: Bleft Swains, whofe Nymphs in every grace excel; Bleft Nymphs,whofe Swains thofe graces fing fo well! Now rife, and hafte to yonder woodbine bowers, A foft retreat from sudden vernal showers; The turf with rural dainties shall be crown'd, While op'ning blooms diffuse their sweets around. For fee! the gath'ring flocks to fhelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful fhow'rs defcend. |