University of Virginia Library

COLIN and CELIA:

A PASTORAL POEM.

Where slumb'ring streams in liquid silence flow,
And fragrant beauties on their borders grow;
Where smiling nature greets th' approach of spring,
And warbling songsters soothing sonnets sing;
Where gentle gales their fanning wings display,
And whisper pleasures as they steal away;—
There Colin wand'ring, lost in dreams of love,
Saw Celia's form in clouded beauty move;
He beard her words in trembling accents break,
Then step'd aside, to listen, as she spake.
He vow'd to love, with sweet submission swore,
But hapless Celia ne'er may view him o'er.
Her moving words the balmy breezes bear,
And gently waft them to the shepherd's ear.
Each soothing found his deep attention caught,
But Celia's name enraptur'd ev'ry thought—
When smoothly gliding thro' the silent grove,
She saw her Colin melting into love,
“His soul thus utt'rance gave.”

MILTON.]

Why dubious, Celia, of thy Colin's love,
And why lamenting to the silent grove?
In early youth your pleasing chains I bore,
And captive still, my lovely maid, adore.
Should Venus, circled in an orb of charms,
With sweet submission court me to her arms,
Her all-divine would ineffectual prove,
Nor cou'd her beauty make me change my love.
“She blush'd and smil'd.”

[_]

MILTON.

Then Colin's eyes with sparkling pleasure roll,
A torrent rapture rushing to his soul.
He smiling springs, in transport, views her charms,
And clasps her gently yielding in his arms.