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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FRAGMENTS. |
The idylliums of Moschus and Bion | ||
91
FRAGMENTS.
Upon Hyacinthus.
Before the lovely Hyacinthus dy'd,No Art the mournful Bion left untry'd;
Grief stopp'd his Voice, and in Excess of Pain,
From Drugs he sought Relief, but all in vain;
Then he, when no Relief from Drugs was found,
With Nectar, and Ambrosia, bath'd the Wound.
Nor Drugs, nor Ointments, could prolong his Breath,
Nor Art avail. Such is the Pow'r of Death.
[I'll to the Shore, there to the Deep I'll turn]
I'll to the Shore, there to the Deep I'll turn,To cruel Galatea make my Mourn;
There on the Sands I'll murmur out my Pray'r,
And try if I can move th'obdurate Fair.
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Nor ever cease to hope while Life remains.
[For ev'ry Crack that in your Pipe is made]
For ev'ry Crack that in your Pipe is made,Ne'er fly directly to the Artist's Aid;
'Tis as unseemly, 'Faith it is, dear Swain,
To borrow of a Neighbour of the Plain;
There's nothing like a Syrinx of your own,
Make it your self, for it is eas'ly done.
[When Love invokes the Nine, the Muse's Friend]
When Love invokes the Nine, the Muse's Friend,On Love they're always ready to attend;
When with the Love of Verse my Soul's on Fire;
They give a Song, and answer my Desire;
When I their Gift, th'harmonious Song, rehearse,
No Balm is equal to the Sweets of Verse.
[Let not the Bard invoke the Muse in vain]
Let not the Bard invoke the Muse in vain;Phœbus rewards the Poet's grateful Strain.
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The Honour always adds to what they give.
[By frequent Drops of Rain, as it is said]
By frequent Drops of Rain, as it is said,The hardest Stone in Time is hollow made.
[When first the Gods Beauty to Woman gave]
When first the Gods Beauty to Woman gave,They bad the Man that would excel, be Brave.
The idylliums of Moschus and Bion | ||