The idylliums of Moschus and Bion Translated from the Greek. With annotations. To which is prefixed, An Account of their Lives; with some Remarks on their Works; and some Observations upon Pastoral. By Mr. Cooke |
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Idyllium III. The Dream.
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 | The idylliums of Moschus and Bion |  |
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Idyllium III. The Dream.
In downy Sleep I lay, when to my Sight,
Appear'd the pow'rful Goddess of Delight;
In her fair Hand an Infant Love she led,
And as he walk'd to Earth, he bow'd his Head.
The Goddess spoke, and thus she said: Dear Swain,
Go teach this Boy to sing a rural Strain.
Appear'd the pow'rful Goddess of Delight;
In her fair Hand an Infant Love she led,
And as he walk'd to Earth, he bow'd his Head.
The Goddess spoke, and thus she said: Dear Swain,
Go teach this Boy to sing a rural Strain.
She spoke, and fled; I, like a Fool, sung o'er
The rustick Lays I us'd to sing before.
Deceitful he to Learning seem'd inclin'd,
I taught him how Pan first the Syrinx join'd;
Minerva's Flute too did my Breast inspire;
Mercury's Shell; and sweet Apollo's Lyre.
But wanton he begun to sing of Love,
Th'Amours of Mortals, and the Gods above.
His Mother's Acts so movingly he sung,
On ev'ry Word a dear Infection hung.
My past'ral Lays quick from my Breast were flown,
Cupid's I learn'd, but soon forgot my own.
The rustick Lays I us'd to sing before.
Deceitful he to Learning seem'd inclin'd,
I taught him how Pan first the Syrinx join'd;
Minerva's Flute too did my Breast inspire;
Mercury's Shell; and sweet Apollo's Lyre.
But wanton he begun to sing of Love,
Th'Amours of Mortals, and the Gods above.
85
On ev'ry Word a dear Infection hung.
My past'ral Lays quick from my Breast were flown,
Cupid's I learn'd, but soon forgot my own.
| The idylliums of Moschus and Bion | |