Angling Sports In Nine Piscatory Eclogues. A New Attempt To introduce a more pleasing Variety and Mixture of Subjects and Characters into Pastoral. On the Plan of its primitive Rules and Manners. Suited to the Entertainment of Retirement, and the Lovers of Nature in rural Scenes. With an Essay in Defence of this Undertaking. By Moses Browne. The Third Edition, Corrected, and very much improved |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. | ECLOGUE VII. THE STRIFE. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
 | Angling Sports |  |
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ECLOGUE VII. THE STRIFE.
To the Honourable Mrs. Bladen.
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THE ARGUMENT.
Clorin, a pleasant Shepherd, lighting on the Fisher Comus, they fall into a rallying Vein, which brings on a Challenge of Singing. Algon, an aged Angler, is made Umpire, who modestly pleads his Unfitness, yet proposes each should chuse his Subject in Honour of his different Employment.—Clorin, in Compliment to Pan, relates the Story of Pytis, a Nymph beloved by him (to avoid the Rage of Boreas, her slighted Lover) changed into the Pine-Tree, which is said to weep when the North-Wind blows, with the Boughs of which Pan crowns himself. Comus, in Turn, (from the Severn by which they are sitting) sings the Metamorphosis of Sabrina drowned in that Stream, supposed from her to receive its Name.—The Fable of Pytis, though furnished with as beautiful Incidents as any in the Poets, is not to be met with in Ovid or others, ancient or modern; which makes it new in its Kind, and occasioned the selecting it for this Eclogue.—The Story of Sabrina is differently related from Geoffry of Monmouth, and other credulous Writers; but the Whole being suspected, gives Liberty to improve and soften the Fable.
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With Pride untainted, tho' in Rank elate,
Not more by Honours than by Merit great,
Shall Bladen, worthy of sublimer strains,
The mild contention hear of friendly Swains?
Bold is the hope, unequal are the lays,
Yet apt the theme, a gentle Strife for Praise.
CLORIN.Not more by Honours than by Merit great,
Shall Bladen, worthy of sublimer strains,
The mild contention hear of friendly Swains?
Bold is the hope, unequal are the lays,
Yet apt the theme, a gentle Strife for Praise.
Ho Fisher! so intent on finny spoil,
Hast caught my straggling Wether in thy toil?
COMUS.
Love-Loiterer, ever from thy charge away;
Well like the roving Swain his flock may stray.
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You grudge my happy lot, and envying pine,
Because the Nymphs prefer my Songs to thine.
COMUS.
I envy? whom the Shepherd-boys excel!
Dromio, the Dolt, can chaunt it, full as well.
CLORIN.
Since leisure is such pleasing strife to try,
And since our wishes with the place comply,
Begin—You, Algon, our performance weigh:
Judge right, and to the victor yield the day.
ALGON.
Hard office, courteous Shepherd, you enjoin,
Ill trusted to unskilful ear like mine,
Unapt and new to judge such learn'd debate;
But if from me the wish'd aproof you wait,
Begin: In Shepherds honour tune your lays,
And, Comus, carol thou the Fisher's praise.
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Me, Pan, assist: If ever on the plains
My pipe was pleasing, or approv'd my strains,
Be present now; and O thy succours bring,
While of thy Love, and Pytis' Fate I sing!
My pipe was pleasing, or approv'd my strains,
Be present now; and O thy succours bring,
While of thy Love, and Pytis' Fate I sing!
The gentle Maid was of the Sylvan race,
Bred to the pliant bow and active chace,
No herd attended she, no woolly care,
Nor haunted stream nor flow'ry pasture fair;
The gloom of woods she sought, and forests wild,
And with her sports the lonely hours beguil'd;
Yet for her beauty num'rous lovers strove,
Her beauty form'd to raise resistless love;
The Fawns and Demi-Gods of ev'ry shade,
With vows besought the unattentive Maid;
The Satyrs at the noon-tide hour wou'd haste,
And mingled viands bear to sooth her taste;
The bloomy bow'rs, and pearly springs explore,
And climb the groves to reach their choicest store;
For her the River Deities complain,
And ev'ry drooping Genius sigh'd in vain.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Bred to the pliant bow and active chace,
No herd attended she, no woolly care,
Nor haunted stream nor flow'ry pasture fair;
The gloom of woods she sought, and forests wild,
And with her sports the lonely hours beguil'd;
Yet for her beauty num'rous lovers strove,
Her beauty form'd to raise resistless love;
The Fawns and Demi-Gods of ev'ry shade,
With vows besought the unattentive Maid;
The Satyrs at the noon-tide hour wou'd haste,
And mingled viands bear to sooth her taste;
The bloomy bow'rs, and pearly springs explore,
And climb the groves to reach their choicest store;
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And ev'ry drooping Genius sigh'd in vain.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Pan only the relenting Fair possess'd,
Desir'd, and was with equal fondness bless'd;
Tho' Boreas, raging with enamour'd smart,
Sought the coy Nymph with ev'ry wooing art,
Oft would he watch her where she sleeping lay,
And with her neck and downy bosom play;
Oft in the chace attend the flying Fair,
And waft her robes, and revel in her hair;
No winters brooded on his alter'd wing,
Serene and breezy as the breath of spring;
Yet she, averse, his fond addresses flew,
And still in ev'ry shape her Lover knew;
Whether with Zephyr's milder look he blooms,
A Satyr's borrow'd form, or Pan's assumes,
Whate'er disguise the apt Deceiver wears,
She still discerns him and eludes his snares.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Desir'd, and was with equal fondness bless'd;
Tho' Boreas, raging with enamour'd smart,
Sought the coy Nymph with ev'ry wooing art,
Oft would he watch her where she sleeping lay,
And with her neck and downy bosom play;
Oft in the chace attend the flying Fair,
And waft her robes, and revel in her hair;
No winters brooded on his alter'd wing,
Serene and breezy as the breath of spring;
Yet she, averse, his fond addresses flew,
And still in ev'ry shape her Lover knew;
Whether with Zephyr's milder look he blooms,
A Satyr's borrow'd form, or Pan's assumes,
Whate'er disguise the apt Deceiver wears,
She still discerns him and eludes his snares.
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Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Deep in Arcadian vales a forest grows,
Whose blended shade indulgent gloom bestows,
No axe did e'er the sacred verdure wound,
Or mortal foot impress the hallow'd ground.
Hither the Maid was wonted to retreat
When tir'd with hunting, or the mid-day heat,
And now, as us'd, the inmost bow'r she chose;
When from its shade th' inambush'd Form arose,
Nor knew she yet but Pan's approach she hears,
And such he now thro' all his shape appears;
His step he well dissembled as he came,
His gesture, voice, and ev'ry look the same.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Whose blended shade indulgent gloom bestows,
No axe did e'er the sacred verdure wound,
Or mortal foot impress the hallow'd ground.
Hither the Maid was wonted to retreat
When tir'd with hunting, or the mid-day heat,
And now, as us'd, the inmost bow'r she chose;
When from its shade th' inambush'd Form arose,
Nor knew she yet but Pan's approach she hears,
And such he now thro' all his shape appears;
His step he well dissembled as he came,
His gesture, voice, and ev'ry look the same.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Eager to meet the willing Maid he flies,
When strait th' impostor Lover she descries;
Struggling she seeks to shun his close embrace,
And in her bosom hides her fearful face.
Enrag'd to find his utmost art's betray'd,
And wild to lose the half-surrender'd Maid,
“Ungrateful Fair, at length be taught (he cries)
“How great a Pow'r thy partial thoughts despise.”
Nor longer now the dreary sight conceals,
But all the terror of his form reveals.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
When strait th' impostor Lover she descries;
Struggling she seeks to shun his close embrace,
And in her bosom hides her fearful face.
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And wild to lose the half-surrender'd Maid,
“Ungrateful Fair, at length be taught (he cries)
“How great a Pow'r thy partial thoughts despise.”
Nor longer now the dreary sight conceals,
But all the terror of his form reveals.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Unshapen mists his hoary visage veil,
And frosts his temples shrowd and bleaky hail.
Rough isicles his forky brows compose,
His hairs and grisly beard descend with snows.
Thrice with disorder'd steps he stalks around,
And trail'd his dusky mantle o'er the ground,
With horrid plumes his sooty pinions wave,
The blast re-echoes far from ev'ry cave.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
And frosts his temples shrowd and bleaky hail.
Rough isicles his forky brows compose,
His hairs and grisly beard descend with snows.
Thrice with disorder'd steps he stalks around,
And trail'd his dusky mantle o'er the ground,
With horrid plumes his sooty pinions wave,
The blast re-echoes far from ev'ry cave.
Ye Graces aid, ye Muses tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be present, and assist my Song.
Scar'd with the hideous sound and glaring view,
Swift from Eurota's trembling banks she flew,
O'er grovy Menalus now urg'd her flight,
And cold Lyceus past thy tow'ry height;
Nemæan shades and tall Cyllene views,
Fast as she flies the wingy Form pursues.
Steep Nonacrine and low Cytheron gain'd,
And Helicon's aspiring brow attain'd,
Thro' Panope her hast'ning course she led,
And Oeta past, and Pindus' hilly head,
When last to Boreas frozen cliffs she came,
(The ill-fam'd mount from him receiv'd its name)
Fainting with toils, the woe-bewander'd maid,
Thus, to the Nymphs in broken murmurs pray'd:
“Ye Pow'rs! who here eternal honours know,
“O Sisters, conscious of my Virgin woe,
“Receive me pitying to your vestal train,
“And in your timely aid prevent my pain.”
She ceas'd, for mov'd by her inclement grief,
The Dryades present the wish'd relief,
Her stiff'ning limbs their pliant use refuse,
And now her feet the pow'r of motion lose;
A spreading bole her hard'ning trunk receives,
Her head and branching arms distend with leaves;
Yet still she bears her Ravisher in mind,
And weeps whene'er she feels his dreaded wind.
Pan mourns her loss, and in return is seen
To bind his temples with her wreathy green:
Cease Graces now, cease Muse to tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be absent, and be mute my Song.
Swift from Eurota's trembling banks she flew,
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And cold Lyceus past thy tow'ry height;
Nemæan shades and tall Cyllene views,
Fast as she flies the wingy Form pursues.
Steep Nonacrine and low Cytheron gain'd,
And Helicon's aspiring brow attain'd,
Thro' Panope her hast'ning course she led,
And Oeta past, and Pindus' hilly head,
When last to Boreas frozen cliffs she came,
(The ill-fam'd mount from him receiv'd its name)
Fainting with toils, the woe-bewander'd maid,
Thus, to the Nymphs in broken murmurs pray'd:
“Ye Pow'rs! who here eternal honours know,
“O Sisters, conscious of my Virgin woe,
“Receive me pitying to your vestal train,
“And in your timely aid prevent my pain.”
She ceas'd, for mov'd by her inclement grief,
The Dryades present the wish'd relief,
Her stiff'ning limbs their pliant use refuse,
And now her feet the pow'r of motion lose;
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Her head and branching arms distend with leaves;
Yet still she bears her Ravisher in mind,
And weeps whene'er she feels his dreaded wind.
Pan mourns her loss, and in return is seen
To bind his temples with her wreathy green:
Cease Graces now, cease Muse to tune my Tongue,
Thou Pan be absent, and be mute my Song.
COMUS.
Of the smooth Severn I a lay rehearse,
And call the wave-rob'd Goddess to my verse.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
And call the wave-rob'd Goddess to my verse.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
95
The Severn from the Virgin Sabra came,
From the fair Nymph the flood deriv'd its name;
A Nais she, whom on the Cambrian shore,
A Mountain-votary to Neptune bore.
No Pow'r was yet with her alliance grac'd,
No am'rous flood her Virgin Spring embrac'd,
Recluse and coy she shun'd the genial fire,
And oft would to bewilder'd shades retire;
Or take o'er steepy rocks a dangerous way,
Or with her kindred Springs delight to play:
Yet distant floods had heard her beauty's fame,
And in disorder'd sighs confess'd their flame.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
From the fair Nymph the flood deriv'd its name;
A Nais she, whom on the Cambrian shore,
A Mountain-votary to Neptune bore.
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No am'rous flood her Virgin Spring embrac'd,
Recluse and coy she shun'd the genial fire,
And oft would to bewilder'd shades retire;
Or take o'er steepy rocks a dangerous way,
Or with her kindred Springs delight to play:
Yet distant floods had heard her beauty's fame,
And in disorder'd sighs confess'd their flame.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
For her imperial Thames was said to pine,
And first bedew his waves with Ocean brine.
The gentle Humber for the proudly Fair
Impetuous grew, transform'd by wild despair;
Whilst rapid Winander, deprest with woe,
Droop'd at his fountains and surceas'd to flow.
Then limpid Cam, 'tis told, first troubled grew,
And with his tears distain'd his silver hue;
Abash'd the slighted Mole his channel fled,
And deep in earth implung'd his abject head:
Some think his floods to lowest seas repair,
Mix with the Ocean Nymphs and lose his care.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
And first bedew his waves with Ocean brine.
97
Impetuous grew, transform'd by wild despair;
Whilst rapid Winander, deprest with woe,
Droop'd at his fountains and surceas'd to flow.
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And with his tears distain'd his silver hue;
Abash'd the slighted Mole his channel fled,
And deep in earth implung'd his abject head:
Some think his floods to lowest seas repair,
Mix with the Ocean Nymphs and lose his care.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
The stately Avon woed th' unpitying Fair,
And Medway, Sire of Floods, and princely Yare,
For him two Sister-Nymphs with ardour burn,
Fair Waveney, rich in streams, and lovely Thirn,
Incaptiv'd Meneu languish'd for her charms,
And Trent to clasp her stretch'd out all his arms.
The age-bent Ouse an am'rous heat inflames,
And Mersey pride of fair Cornavian streams,
Her, Wantsum lov'd, and Pant and sedgy Lea,
And Tamer, spreading wide from sea to sea.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
And Medway, Sire of Floods, and princely Yare,
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Fair Waveney, rich in streams, and lovely Thirn,
Incaptiv'd Meneu languish'd for her charms,
And Trent to clasp her stretch'd out all his arms.
100
And Mersey pride of fair Cornavian streams,
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And Tamer, spreading wide from sea to sea.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
102
Smooth Cherwell drooping griev'd with inward pain,
And slowly drew along his humid train:
Wan Evenlode with chalky Kennet mourn;
And Windrush feebly tends his scanty urn;
And pensive Rother in his hopes dismay'd,
Thro' woods his melancholy flood convey'd.
All vainly lov'd, despairing to obtain,
And with eternal murmurs shall complain.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
And slowly drew along his humid train:
Wan Evenlode with chalky Kennet mourn;
And Windrush feebly tends his scanty urn;
And pensive Rother in his hopes dismay'd,
Thro' woods his melancholy flood convey'd.
All vainly lov'd, despairing to obtain,
And with eternal murmurs shall complain.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
103
Nor less the wat'ry Nymphs with envy pine,
The bord'ring Deva, and remoter Tine;
Fair Solway, by contending rivals woo'd,
And Tweed, the fairest Caledonian flood,
With languid looks their sickly streams appear,
Nor can their charms nor num'rous lovers chear;
A jealous pain the haughty Isis wrings,
And proud Aufona wept from all her springs.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
The bord'ring Deva, and remoter Tine;
Fair Solway, by contending rivals woo'd,
And Tweed, the fairest Caledonian flood,
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Nor can their charms nor num'rous lovers chear;
A jealous pain the haughty Isis wrings,
And proud Aufona wept from all her springs.
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And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
But now predestin'd to enjoy her charms,
(And opportunely guided to his arms)
The neighb'ring flood as on his banks she play'd,
Beheld, and strait surpriz'd th' unwary maid:
In vain, alas! from strife she hopes escape,
Weaker by fears she but assists the rape.
“Illustrious Sabra, royal-born (he cries)
“What causeless woes thy heavy heart surprize?
“No falsehood I, nor guilty force design,
“My plighted vows receive—be ever mine;
“A hundred smiling Nymphs my flood obey,
“And wait thy reign, and court thy milder sway;
“Be these thy dow'r; and to appease thy shame,
“My grateful stream shall ever bear thy name.”
His brow he rais'd with rushy fillets crown'd,
And swore, and call'd the gath'ring floods around.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
(And opportunely guided to his arms)
The neighb'ring flood as on his banks she play'd,
Beheld, and strait surpriz'd th' unwary maid:
In vain, alas! from strife she hopes escape,
Weaker by fears she but assists the rape.
“Illustrious Sabra, royal-born (he cries)
“What causeless woes thy heavy heart surprize?
“No falsehood I, nor guilty force design,
“My plighted vows receive—be ever mine;
“A hundred smiling Nymphs my flood obey,
“And wait thy reign, and court thy milder sway;
“Be these thy dow'r; and to appease thy shame,
“My grateful stream shall ever bear thy name.”
His brow he rais'd with rushy fillets crown'd,
And swore, and call'd the gath'ring floods around.
Ye vales, ye rocks, ye caves your echoes bring,
And thou, Sabrina, listen while I sing.
106
First aged Isca came with fault'ring pace,
And Pedred sprung of Ivel's kingly race;
A dropping wreath of Water-Thyme he wore,
And smiling Munnow came with youthful Dore.
Next Frome with roving Vaga near ally'd,
Who pours from downright cliffs his wanton tide,
And ev'ry summon'd flood attendant came,
Approv'd her honours, and confirm'd her name:
Down to his court the Bridal Pair they led,
And join'd the Lovers in the nuptial bed.
Sabrina cease thy list'ning flood to bring,
And echo cease, and let me cease to sing.
And Pedred sprung of Ivel's kingly race;
A dropping wreath of Water-Thyme he wore,
And smiling Munnow came with youthful Dore.
107
Who pours from downright cliffs his wanton tide,
And ev'ry summon'd flood attendant came,
Approv'd her honours, and confirm'd her name:
Down to his court the Bridal Pair they led,
And join'd the Lovers in the nuptial bed.
Sabrina cease thy list'ning flood to bring,
And echo cease, and let me cease to sing.
ALGON.
Both merit praise, and much reward is due,
To Clorin much, and Comus much to you.
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Till abler ears more couth attention lend;
The herd-grooms shortly to the banks will bring
Their droves, and you repeated lays may sing;
While I my Angle for the stream repair,
And list'ning, ply anew my Fisher-Care.
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