MESSIAH.

A

SACRED ECLOGUE.

IN IMITATION OF

VIRGIL's POLLIO.

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IN reading feveral 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 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 for line; but felected fuch ideas as best agreed with the nature of pastoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served 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 descriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to those of the Poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the paffages of Ifaiah, and those of Virgil, under the fame disadvantage of a literal translation.

ME S

S I A H..

A

SACRED ECLOGUE,

IN IMITATION OF VIRGIL'S POLLIO.

Y

E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong:
To heavenly 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
Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the Bard begun :
A Virgin fhall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

IMITATIONS.

5

From

Ver. 8. A Virgin fhall conceive-All crimes fhall cease,

&c.] Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 6.

Jam redit et Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna;

Jam nova progenies cœlo demittitur alto.
Te duce, fi qua manent fceleris veftigia noftri,
Irrita perpetua folvent formidine terras-
Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.

"Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Sa"turn 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 fhall govern the earth "in peace, with the virtues of his Father."

ISAIAH,

*

From Jeffe's root behold a branch arife,

Whofe facred flower with fragrance fills the skies:
Th' thereal fpirit o'er its leaves fhall move,
And on its top descends the mystic Dove.
Ye Heavens! from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in foft filence fhed the kindly shower!
The fick and weak the healing plant fhall aid,
From ftorms a fhelter, and from heat a fhade.
All crimes fhall ceafe, and ancient frauds fhall fail
Returning § Juftice lift aloft her scale;

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-rob'd Innocence from heaven defcend.
Swift fly the years, and rife the expected morn!
Oh fpring to light, aufpicicus Babe, be born!
Sce Nature haftes her earlieft wreaths to bring,
With all the incenfe of the breathing spring:

IMITATIONS.

ISAIAH, Ch. vii. ver. 14. "Behold a Virgin shall "conceive and bear a Son.-Chap. ix. ver. 6, 7. Un"to us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given; the "Prince of Peace: of the increafe of his government, "and of his peace, there fhall be no end: Upon the "throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order "and to establish it, with judgment and with justice, "for ever and ever."

Ver. 23.

See Nature haftes, &c.] Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 18.
At tibi prima, puer, nullo munufcula cultu,
Errantes hederas paffim cum baccare tellus,
Mixtaque ridenti colocafia fundet acantho-
Ipfa tibi blandes fandent cunabula flores.

*Ifai. xi. ver. 1. + Ch. xlv. ver. 8. § Ch. ix. ver. 7•

vor, 4.

"For

‡ Ch. xxv.

*

See lofty Lebanon his head advance,
See nodding forefts on the mountains dance:
See fpicy clouds from lowly Saron rise,
And Carmel's flowery top perfumes the skies!
Hark! a glad voice the lonely defert chears;
Prepare the way! a God, a God appears :

IMITATIONS.

25

39

A God,

"For thee, O Child, shall the earth, without being "tilled, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mix"ed with Baccar, and Colocaffia with fmiling Acan"thus. Thy cradle fhall pour forth pleafing flowers "about thee."

ISAIAH, Ch. xxxi. ver. 1. "The wilderness and the "folitary place fhall be glad, and the defert fhall re"joice and bloffom as the rofe." Ch. lx. ver. 13. "The

glory of Lebanon fhall come unto thee, the fir-tree, "the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of thy fanctuary."

66

Ver. 29. Hark! a glad voice, &c.

Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 46.

Aggredere ô magnos (aderit jam tempus) honores, Cara deûm foboles, magnum Jovis incrementumEcl. v. ver. 62.

66

Ipfi lætitiâ voces ad fidera jactant

Intorfi montes, ipfæ jam carmina rupes,

Ipfa fonant arbufta, Deus, Deus ille Menalca!

"O 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 fhouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks fing in "verfe, the very fhrubs cry out, A God, a God!"

ISAIAH, Ch. xl. ver. 3, 4. "The voice of him that "cryeth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the + Ch. xl. ver. 3, 4.,

* Ch. xxxv. ver. 2. VOL. I.

E

"Lord!