Plate II. Vol.I.facing p. 91. Wale inv:etdel: P.S. Müller Sc: My humble Muse, in unambitious Strains Paints the green Forefts & the flowry plains. Windsor Forest. IN Advertisement. N reading several paffages of the Prophet Ifaiah, which foretell the coming of Chrift and the felicities attending it, I could not but observe a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but felected fuch ideas as beft agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and difpofed them in that manner which ferved most 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 descriptions of the Prophet are superior to thofe of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I fhall fubjoin the paffages of Ifaiah, and thofe of Virgil, under the fame difadvantage of a literal translation. P. A SACRED ECLOGUE, In Imitation of VIRGIL'S POLLIO. E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: YE To heav'nly themes fublimer strains belong. The moffy fountains, and the fylvan shades, The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids, Delight no more---O thou my voice inspire 5 Who touch'd Isaiah's hallow'd lips with fire! Rapt into future times, the Bard begun : A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son! IMITATIONS. VER. 8. A Virgin shall conceive----All crimes shall cease, etc.] Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna; Te duce, fi qua manent fceleris vestigia noftri, "Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn "returns, now a new progeny is fent down from high hea"ven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes "remain, fhall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He fhall govern the earth in peace, with "the virtues of his father." ISAIAH, Ch. vii. ver. 14. "Behold a Virgin shall con"ceive and bear a fon.-Chap. ix. ver. 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 fhall be no end: Upon the throne of David, and upon his a From Jeffe's root behold a branch arise, Whofe facred flow'r with fragrance fills the skies: d REMARK S. VER 13. Ye Heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour, And in foft filence fhed the kindly show'r !] His Original fays, "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteoufnefs : let the earth open, and let them "bring forth falvation, and let righteoufnefs fpring up toge"ther."-This is a very noble defcription of divine grace fhed abroad in the hearts of the faithful under the Gospel difpenfation. And the poet understood all its force, as appears from the two lines preceding these,—Th' Æthereal Spirit, etc. The prophet defcribes this under the image of rain, which chiefly fits the first age of the Gospel: The poet, under the idea of dew, which extends it to every age. And it was his purpofe it thould be fo understood, as appears from his expreffion of foft filence, which agrees with the common, not the extraordinary effufions of the Holy Spirit. The figurative term is wonderfully happy. He who would moralize the ancient Mythology in the manner of Bacon, would fay, that by the poetical nectar, is meant the grace of the Theologifts. VER. 17. Ancient fraud] i. e. the fraud of the Serpent. IMITATIONS. kingdom, to order and to stablish it, with judgment, and "with juftice, for ever and ever." P. 2 Ifai. xi. ver. I. b Ch. xlv. ver. 8. Ch. ix. ver. 7. c Ch. xxv. ver. 4. |