 | The miscellaneous works (1739) |  |
84
To CHLOE.
An Epistle.
Fair
Chloe, leave the noisy town, and try
What artless sweets the country scenes supply:
While the young year in all its pride invites,
And promises a thousand gay delights;
While the glad sun his fairest light displays,
And op'ning blossoms court his chearful rays.
The nymyhs for thee shall deck some rural bow'r
With ev'ry verdant branch and painted flow'r;
To thee the swains full canisters shall bring,
Of all the fragrant treasures of the spring:
While some young shepherd in the sounding grove
Shall tune his reed for thee to strains of love.
Nor from the soft, enchanting accents run,
For who the pleasing charms of love would shun?
Such love as in these guiltless seats is known,
Such as a state of innocence might own.
No frauds, no treach'rous arts are practis'd here,
No perjur'd vows deluded virgins fear.
The gentle god with mild indulgence sways,
And ev'ry willing heart his laws obeys.
What artless sweets the country scenes supply:
While the young year in all its pride invites,
And promises a thousand gay delights;
While the glad sun his fairest light displays,
And op'ning blossoms court his chearful rays.
The nymyhs for thee shall deck some rural bow'r
With ev'ry verdant branch and painted flow'r;
To thee the swains full canisters shall bring,
Of all the fragrant treasures of the spring:
While some young shepherd in the sounding grove
Shall tune his reed for thee to strains of love.
Nor from the soft, enchanting accents run,
For who the pleasing charms of love would shun?
Such love as in these guiltless seats is known,
Such as a state of innocence might own.
No frauds, no treach'rous arts are practis'd here,
No perjur'd vows deluded virgins fear.
The gentle god with mild indulgence sways,
And ev'ry willing heart his laws obeys.
All hail, ye fields, and ev'ry happy grove!
How your soft scenes the tender flame improve,
And melt the thoughts, and turn the soul to love!
'Twas here Mirtillo's charms my bosom fir'd,
While all the god the am'rous youth inspir'd;
Divine his art, prevailing was his tongue,
While in the shades the skilful shepherd sung:
On downy wings young Zephyrs took the sound,
And chear'd the plains, and all the valleys round.
The list'ning streams were conscious of his flame,
And ev'ry grove acquainted with my name.
No nymph but envy'd me Mirtillo's praise,
For I had all his vows and tender lays.
Nor could such truth and merit plead in vain,
I heard his sighs, and pity'd all his pain;
While Venus smil'd propitious from above,
And crown'd our vows, and blest our mutual love.
May prosp'rous fates attend the happy day,
And circling joys for ever make it gay!
From thence we date our bliss, and still improve
Our soft delights, as thro' the woods we rove:
In flow'ry meadows, groves, and fragrant bow'rs,
Serene and free, we spend the lightsome hours.
How your soft scenes the tender flame improve,
And melt the thoughts, and turn the soul to love!
'Twas here Mirtillo's charms my bosom fir'd,
While all the god the am'rous youth inspir'd;
85
While in the shades the skilful shepherd sung:
On downy wings young Zephyrs took the sound,
And chear'd the plains, and all the valleys round.
The list'ning streams were conscious of his flame,
And ev'ry grove acquainted with my name.
No nymph but envy'd me Mirtillo's praise,
For I had all his vows and tender lays.
Nor could such truth and merit plead in vain,
I heard his sighs, and pity'd all his pain;
While Venus smil'd propitious from above,
And crown'd our vows, and blest our mutual love.
May prosp'rous fates attend the happy day,
And circling joys for ever make it gay!
From thence we date our bliss, and still improve
Our soft delights, as thro' the woods we rove:
In flow'ry meadows, groves, and fragrant bow'rs,
Serene and free, we spend the lightsome hours.
Thus live the Dryads, thus the sacred race
That haunt the valleys, and the fountains grace;
The rural scenes indulge their warm desires,
Heighten their joys, and feed immortal fires.
Diana, who in heav'n could guard her breast,
In Latmos' flow'ry fields the god confest.
No name but his among the swains is known,
Superior love is all the pow'r they own;
Their willing tribute to his shrine they bring,
Turtles, and lambs, and all the blooming spring,
While to their tuneful harps his praise they sing.
Young Zephyrs bear the charming accents round,
And rocks and mossy caves retain the sound;
Tigers and wolves grow wild, the tim'rous fawns,
Undaunted, skip along the open lawns;
Roses and myrtles bloom, the am'rous doves,
And all the warbling chorus own their loves;
The nodding groves, and falling floods reply,
And all confess the pow'rful deity.
That haunt the valleys, and the fountains grace;
The rural scenes indulge their warm desires,
Heighten their joys, and feed immortal fires.
Diana, who in heav'n could guard her breast,
In Latmos' flow'ry fields the god confest.
No name but his among the swains is known,
Superior love is all the pow'r they own;
Their willing tribute to his shrine they bring,
Turtles, and lambs, and all the blooming spring,
While to their tuneful harps his praise they sing.
Young Zephyrs bear the charming accents round,
And rocks and mossy caves retain the sound;
86
Undaunted, skip along the open lawns;
Roses and myrtles bloom, the am'rous doves,
And all the warbling chorus own their loves;
The nodding groves, and falling floods reply,
And all confess the pow'rful deity.
| The miscellaneous works (1739) | |