And what is that which binds the radiant sky, Where twelve fair signs in beauteous order lie! 40 Dam. Then sing by turns, by turns the Muses sing, Now hawthorns blossom, now the daisies spring; Now leaves the trees, and flow'rs 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: 46 A milk-white bull shall at your altars stand, That threats a fight, and spurns the rising sand. 50 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. 55 Daph. The sprightly Sylvia trips along the green; She runs, but hopes she does not run unseen; While a kind glance at her pursuer flies, How much at variance are her feet and eyes! 6Q Streph. O'er golden sands let rich Pactolus flow, And trees weep amber on the banks of Po; Blest Thames's shores the brightest beauties yield: Feed here, my lambs, I'll seek no distant field. Daph. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; 65 Diana Cynthus, Ceres Hybla loves : If Windsor shades delight the matchless maid, Streph. All nature mourns, the skies relent in show'rs, Hush'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flow'rs; If Delia smile, the flow'rs begin to spring, The skies to brighten, and the birds to sing. 71 Daph. All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, The sun's mild lustre warms the vital air; If Sylvia smiles, new glories gild the shore, 75 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. 80 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 wond'rous tree, that sacred monarchs bears? 86 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. 90 Dam. Cease to contend; for, Daphnis, I decree The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee. Blest swains, whose nymphs in ev'ry grace excel! 95 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 op'ning blooms diffuse their sweets around, For see! the gathering flocks to shelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful show'rs descend. SUMMER. PASTORAL II, OR, 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 quivʼring shade. Soft as he mourn'd, the streams forgot to flow, The flocks around a dumb compassion show, The Naiads wept in ev'ry wat'ry bow'r, And Jove consented in a silent show'r. Accept, O Garth, the Muse's early lays, That adds this wreath of ivy to thy bays; 5 10 Hear what from love unpractis'd hearts endure, 15 The hills and rocks attend my doleful lay; 25 Why art thou prouder and more hard than they? Let other swains attend the rural care, 30 56 35 40 |