My humble Muse, in unambitious Strains Paints the green Forefts & the flowry Plains.

Windsor Forest

WINDSOR-FOREST.

To the Right Honourable

GEORGE Lord LANSDOW N.

THY

HY forefts, Windfor! and thy green retreats, once the Monarch's and the Mufe's feats, Invite my lays. Be prefent, fylvan maids! Unlock your fprings, and open all your fhades. GRANVILLE Commands; your aid, O Mufes bring! What Mufe for GRANVILLE can refuse to fing!

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VARIATIONS.

VER. 3, etc. Originally thus,

Chafte goddess of the woods,

Nymphs of the vales, and Naïds of the floods,
Lead me thro' arching bow'rs, and glimm'ring glades.
Unlock your fprings-

VER. 6.

NOTES.

This Poem was written at two different times: the first part of it, which relates to the country, in the year 1704, at the fame time with the Paftorals: the latter part was not added till the year 1713, in which it was published.

IMITATIONS.

The Groves of Eden vanifh'd now fo long, Live in defcription, and look green in fong: Thefe, were my breaft infpir'd with equal flame, Like them in beauty, fhould be like in fame. Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, Here earth and water feem to ftrive again; Not Chaos-like together crufh'd and bruis'd, But, as the world, harmoniously confus'd : Where order in variety we fee, And where, tho' all things differ, all agree. Here waving groves a chequer'd scene display, And part admit, and part exclude the day; As fome coy nymph her lover's warm address Nor quite indulges, nor can quite reprefs. There, interfpers'd in lawns and op'ning glades, Thin trees arife that fhun each other's fhades. Here in full light the ruffet plains extend: There wrapt in clouds the blueifh hills afcend. Ev'n the wild heath displays her purple dyes, And 'midft the defert fruitful fields arife, That crown'd with tufted trees and springing corn, Like verdant ifles the fable wafte adorn.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 25. Originally thus ;

Why fhould I fing our better funs or air,
Whofe vital draughts prevent the leach's care,
While thro' fresh fields th' enliv'ning odours breathe,
Or fpread with vernal blooms the purple heath?

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Let India boaft her plants, nor envy we
The weeping amber or the balmy tree,
While by our oaks the precious loads are born,
And realms commanded which those trees adorn.
Not proud Olympus yields a nobler fight,
Tho' Gods affembled grace his tow'ring height,
Than what more humble mountains offer here, 35
Where, in their bleffings, all those Gods appear.
See Pan with flocks, with fruits Pomona crown'd;
Here blufhing Flora paints th' enamel'd ground,
Here Ceres' gifts in waving profpect stand,
And nodding tempt the joyful reaper's hand;
Rich Industry fits fmiling on the plains,
And peace and plenty tell, a STUART reigns.
Not thus the land appear'd in ages past,
A dreary defert, and a gloomy waste,
To favage beafts and favage laws a prey,
And kings more furious and fevere than they;
Who claim'd the fkies, difpeopled air and floods,
The lonely lords of empty wilds and woods:
Cities laid wafte, they ftorm'd the dens and caves,
(For wifer brutes were backward to be flaves,) 50

VARIATIONS.

VER. 49. Originally thus in the MS.

From towns laid wafte, to dens and caves they ran
(For who first stoop'd to be a flave was man.)

NOTES.

VER. 45. favage laws] The Foreft Laws.

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