The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley Collected and Edited from the Old Editions: With a preface on the text, explanatory and textual notes, an appendix containing works of doubtful authenticity, and a bibliography: By V. de Sola Pinto |
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XCIV. |
XCV. |
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CXIV. |
CXV. |
CXVI. |
CXVII. |
CXVIII. |
CXIX. |
![]() | CXX. | CXX THE SEVENTH PASTORAL |
CXXI. |
CXXII. |
CXXIII. |
CXXIV. |
CXXV. |
CXXVI. |
CXXVII. |
CXXVIII. |
CXXIX. |
CXXX. |
CXXXI. |
CXXXII. |
CXXXIII. |
CXXXIV. |
CXXXV. |
CXXXVI. |
![]() | The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley | ![]() |
177
CXX THE SEVENTH PASTORAL
Daphnis by Chance his Seat reposing tookBeneath the Covert of a spreading Oak,
And Coridon and Thyrsis thither led
Their Flocks, that joyning now together fed:
She-Goats fair fruitful Coridon did keep,
The Charge of Thyrsis was his bleating Sheep,
Both in their Prime! and both Arcadian Swains!
Both apt and ready at alternate Strains.
Now while I for my tender Myrtles made
A Fence from Cold, unhappily had stray'd
My Goat the Husband of the Flock, and I
Seeking th' unlucky Truant Daphnis spy,
When me again he had rejoycing spy'd,
Hither, oh Melibæus! haste, he cry'd,
Safe be thy Goats! and if Affairs permit,
In this cool Shade a while, I prithee sit,
Hither will come thy Bullocks thro' the Meads
To drink, and here behold, with waving Reeds
The River Mencius ouzy Banks are crown'd,
And from the sacred Oak the murm'ring Bees resound.
What shou'd I do in this Uncertainty?
I had not Phillis, nor Alappe nigh,
Who from the Call of their inviting Damms,
Might now secure at home my weaned Lambs,
And Numbers on the crowded Plain appear,
These youthful Shepherds fam'd Dispute to hear;
I idly too prefer their light Affairs
Before my Bus'ness, and more serious Cares.
The Shepherds then began to try their Skill
In Strains alternate, which the Muses will,
I shou'd remember; thus his Art each shows,
These Coridon recites, and Thyrsis those.
Coridon
Ye lov'ly Muses! my Delight! incline
To grant my Lays a Harmony divine;
Like those of charming Codrus, let them be,
Who is in worth Apollo! next to thee,
Or if my Prayer unkindly is deny'd,
My pipe shall on this sacred Oak abide.
178
Arcadian Swains! around my Temples place
An Ivy Wreath, that Codrus in Disgrace,
May burst with Spight, or if malicious Praise
From his ill Tongue, too high my Value raise:
With Baccar bind my Brows (a sacred Charm)
Your growing Poet to secure from Harm.
Coridon
This rough Boar's Head with Favour Delia! see,
That little Micon now devotes to thee,
Who do's with this submissively impart
The branchy Horns of a long-living Hart,
If this proves well, thou shalt be wholly plac'd
Of smooth Punicean Stone, with Buskins grac'd.
Thyrsis
This Bowl of Milk and Cakes, Priapus! take,
A slender Present, that I yearly make.
Thy Care, my Garden is a little Spot,
A Marble Statue therefore's now thy Lot;
But if thy Blessing shall increase my Told,
Thy Marble Statue shall be chang'd to Gold.
Coridon
Oh Galatea! sweeter far to me,
Than Honey of the choice Hyblæan Bee,
Whiter than Swans that swim the Chrystal Streams,
And fairer than the clasping Ivy seems;
If thou for Coridon hast kind Concern,
Come! come! when ever my fed Bulls return.
Thyrsis
May I to thee more bitter seem than Rue,
More course than Fuz, than Seaweed abject too,
If this one day do's not to me appear,
(To weary me) more tedious than a Year,
Not yet suffic'd, what will ye ever feed?
Hence ye gorg'd Bullocks! home, for shame, with speed.
Coridon
Ye murm'ring Fountains! and thou tender Glade!
More soft than Sleep, thou sweet refreshing Shade!
By you protected, let my Cattle shun
The Summer's Heat that is ev'n now begun:
179
And budding Gems upon the Vines appear.
Thyrsis
Here store of Fuel do's the Flames provoke,
The Posts are blacken'd by continual Smoke;
Here we the Rage of Boreas safely mock,
As Wolves despise the Number of the Flock;
Or, as the rapid Streams impetuous Force,
The useless Bank that wou'd obstruct its Course.
Coridon
Here stands the Juniper! rough Chessnut grows,
And Apples fallen from their loaded Boughs,
Each where appear, the Fields with Joy are crown'd,
And Mirth and Pleasure are dispens'd around;
But from these Mountains shou'd Alexis go,
Even the Rivers wou'd refuse to flow.
Thyrsis
The Sun with scorching Beams the Meadows fires,
Thro' blasting Air the Verdure all expires,
Ev'n Bacchus to his own denys his Aid,
Nor yields the gen'rous Vine a needful Shade:
When Phillis comes, will bloom the Trees and Flow'rs,
And Rain descend in joyful plenteous Show'rs.
Coridon
The Poplar to Alcides grateful proves,
The curling Vine gay youthful Bacchus loves,
The Myrtle pleases well Love's beauteous Queen:
Apollo likes his Laurel ever green;
But while the Hazle, Phillis! is thy Care,
None than the Hazle shall be thought more rare.
Thyrsis
The Ash in Woods do's ever fairest seem,
The Pine in Gardens, Poplars by the Stream;
The Firr of lofty Mountains is the Pride:
But wou'd'st thou charming Lycidas! abide
More often here, thy Grace my Boy! would be
Far more conspicuous than the fairest Tree.
The Pine in Gardens, Poplars by the Stream;
The Firr of lofty Mountains is the Pride:
But wou'd'st thou charming Lycidas! abide
More often here, thy Grace my Boy! would be
Far more conspicuous than the fairest Tree.
Thus, Thyrsis did contend, but all in vain,
Vanquish'd by Coridon, who on the Plain,
Is since that Time our most applauded Swain.
Vanquish'd by Coridon, who on the Plain,
Is since that Time our most applauded Swain.
![]() | The poetical and dramatic works of Sir Charles Sedley | ![]() |