SPRING. PASTORAL 1.-DAMON. To Sir William Trumbal. IRST in these fields I try the silvan strains, FI Nor blush to sport on Windsor's blissful plains: Fair Thames! flow gently from thy sacred spring, While on thy banks Sicilian Muses sing; Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play, "And Albion's cliffs resound the rural lay. You, that too wise for pride, too good for pow'r, Enjoy the glory to be great no more, And, carrying with you all the world can boast, Soon as the flocks shook off the nightly dews, Streph.Sing then,and Damon shall attend the strain, While yon slow oxen turn the furrow'd plain : Here the bright crocus and blue violet glow; Here western winds on breathing roses blow. I'll stake yon lamb, that near the fountain plays, And from the brink his dancing shade surveys. Daph. And I this bowl, where wanton ivy twines, And swelling clusters bend the curling vines: Four figures rising from the work appear, And what is that, which binds the radiant sky, Where twelve fair signs in beauteous order lie? Dam. Then sing by turns, by turns the Muses sing; Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring; Now leaves the trees, and flowers adorn the ground: Begin, the vales shall every note rebound.. Streph. Inspire me, Phoebus! in my Delia's praise, With Waller's strains, or Granville's moving lays: A milk-white bull shall at your altars stand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand. Daph. O Love! for Sylvia let me gain the prize, And make my tongue victorious as her eyes: No lambs or sheep for victims I'll impart, Thy victim, Love, shall be the shepherd's heart. Streph. Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in shades, eludes her eager swain ; But feigns a laugh, to see me search around, And by that laugh the willing fair is found. Daph. The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green; If Windsor-shades delight the matchless maid, Streph. In spring the fields, in autumn hills I love, At morn the plains, at noon the shady grove, But Delia always; absent from her sight, Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. Daph. Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day: Ev'n spring displeases, when she shines not here; But bless'd with her, 'tis spring throughout the year. Streph. Say, Daphnis, say, in what glad soil appears A wondrous tree, that sacred monarchs bears? Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conquest to thy Sylvia's eyes. Daph. Nay, tell me first, in what more happy fields The thistle springs, to which the lily yields: And then a nobler prize I will resign; For Sylvia, charming Sylvia, shall be thine. Dam. Cease to contend; for, Daphnis, I decree The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee. Blest swains, whose nymphs in every grace excel; Blest nymphs, whose swains those graces sing so well! Now rise, and haste to yonder woodbine bow'rs, A soft retreat from sudden vernal show'rs; The turf with rural dainties shall be crown'd, While opening blooms diffuse their sweets around: For see! the gathering flocks to shelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful showers descend. SUMMER. PASTORAL II.--ALEXIS. To Dr. Garth. A Shepherd's boy (he seeks no better name) Led forth his flocks along the silver Thame, Where dancing sun-beams on the waters play'd, And verdant alders form'd a quiv'ring shade. Soft as he mourn'd, the streams forgot to flow, The flocks around a dumb compassion show, |