The Works of Mr. Henry Needler

THYRSIS.
I did,—and still methinks his Voice I hear
With pleasing Accent sounding in mine Ear;
In what soft Notes, in what a moving Strain,
Sung he Philesia's Charms, and coy Disdain!
O cruel Nymph! O hard obdurate Breast!
That cou'd the Youth's enchanting Lays resist.
Thou'rt Fair, indeed, as the pure Scythian Snow,
But then as cold and unrelenting too.

CORYDON.
The sympathizing Swains stood list'ning round,
And catch'd with greedy Ears each falling Sound:
All, but the beauteous Maid, his Verse attend,
Pity his Passion, and his Song commend.
Thus, when the Nightingale with warbling Throat
Trills in the shady Bow'rs her mournful Note,
Each meaner Voice thro' the whole Grove is still,
And owns sweet Philomel's superior Skill.

THYRSIS.
Less pleas'd I hear the rustling Vernal Breeze
Fly whisp'ring thro' the Branches of the Trees;

Less pleas'd I hear yon' murm'ring chrystal Spring,
Than to his Vocal Pipe young Damon sing.
Collin, for Song renown'd o'er all the Plain,
Sung not in softer Notes his am'rous Pain;
Sure he, when Death untun'd his artful Breath,
To Damon did his Pipe and Skill bequeath.

CORYDON.
O that th' indulgent God of Verse wou'd grant
This Boon to Me, his earnest Supplicant,
That my low Soul he wou'd vouchsafe t'inspire
With Damon's Portion of celestial Fire;
Then shou'd my bolder Muse no longer brook
The flow'ry Meads, and humble Shepherd's Crook;
A loftier Flight her daring Wing shou'd try,
And with the Eagle mount the vaulted Sky;
Then, Orpheus-like, so sweetly wou'd I mourn
By cruel Fate Favonia from us torn,
(Favonia! lov'd by all, by all deplor'd,
With ev'ry Grace adorn'd, and Virtue stor'd,)
That ev'n th' infernal sullen Pow'rs, who wield
Death's rigid Scepter, to my Plaints shou'd yield;

Tho' hard as Adamant their Bosoms are,
Unmov'd, and deaf to ev'ry Vulgar Pray'r,
The melting Force of my persuasive Lays
Such Pity in their flinty Breasts shou'd raise,
That they their Captive shou'd again restore,
And waft her back to the forsaken Shore;
My lasting Numbers shou'd from Death retrieve
The Nymph; in them she shou'd for ever live.

University of Virginia Library

A PASTORAL. CORYDON and THYRSIS.