The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq In two volumes. With Decorations. The fourth edition |
 | I. |
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The DYING KID. |
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| II. |
 | The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq |  |
The DYING KID.
Optima quæque dies miseris mortalibus ævi
Prima fugit ------
Virg.
Prima fugit ------
Virg.
A tear bedews my Delia's eye,
To think yon playful kid must die;
From crystal spring, and flow'ry mead,
Must, in his prime of life, recede!
To think yon playful kid must die;
From crystal spring, and flow'ry mead,
Must, in his prime of life, recede!
Erewhile, in sportive circles round
She saw him wheel, and frisk, and bound;
From rock to rock pursue his way,
And, on the fearful margin, play.
She saw him wheel, and frisk, and bound;
From rock to rock pursue his way,
And, on the fearful margin, play.
Pleas'd on his various freaks to dwell,
She saw him climb my rustic cell;
Thence eye my lawns with verdure bright,
And seem all ravish'd at the sight.
She saw him climb my rustic cell;
Thence eye my lawns with verdure bright,
And seem all ravish'd at the sight.
She tells, with what delight he stood,
To trace his features in the flood:
Then skip'd aloof with quaint amaze;
And then drew near again to gaze.
To trace his features in the flood:
Then skip'd aloof with quaint amaze;
And then drew near again to gaze.
148
She tells me how with eager speed
He flew, to hear my vocal reed;
And how, with critic face profound,
And stedfast ear, devour'd the sound.
He flew, to hear my vocal reed;
And how, with critic face profound,
And stedfast ear, devour'd the sound.
His every frolic, light as air,
Deserves the gentle Delia's care;
And tears bedew her tender eye,
To think the playful kid must die.—
Deserves the gentle Delia's care;
And tears bedew her tender eye,
To think the playful kid must die.—
But knows my Delia, timely wise,
How soon this blameless æra flies?
While violence and craft succeed;
Unfair design, and ruthless deed!
How soon this blameless æra flies?
While violence and craft succeed;
Unfair design, and ruthless deed!
Soon would the vine his wounds deplore,
And yield her purple gifts no more;
Ah soon, eras'd from every grove
Were Delia's name, and Strephon's love.
And yield her purple gifts no more;
Ah soon, eras'd from every grove
Were Delia's name, and Strephon's love.
No more those bow'rs might Strephon see,
Where first he fondly gaz'd on thee;
No more those beds of flow'rets find,
Which for thy charming brows he twin'd.
Where first he fondly gaz'd on thee;
No more those beds of flow'rets find,
Which for thy charming brows he twin'd.
Each wayward passion soon would tear
His bosom, now so void of care;
And, when they left his ebbing vein,
What, but insipid age, remain?
His bosom, now so void of care;
And, when they left his ebbing vein,
What, but insipid age, remain?
149
Then mourn not the decrees of fate,
That gave his life so short a date;
And I will join my tenderest sighs,
To think that youth so swiftly flies!
That gave his life so short a date;
And I will join my tenderest sighs,
To think that youth so swiftly flies!
| The works, in verse and prose, of William Shenstone, Esq | |