State Tracts Containing Many Necessary Observations and Reflections on the State of our Affairs at Home and Abroad; With some Secret Memoirs. By the Author of the Examiner [i.e. William Oldisworth] |
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THE EIGHTH ECCLOGUE of VIRGIL
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THE EIGHTH ECCLOGUE of VIRGIL
Damon and Alphæsibæus.
The mournful Muse of Two contending Swains,
Of slighted Love and Witchcraft both complains.
The wondering Cattle quite forget their Food,
The Lynxes of their Verse amazed stood;
And the swift Flood takes on the Banks his Seat,
While we the Swains rejected Songs repeat.
And thou great Prince, whether thou passest o'er
Timavus Rocks or Coasts th'Illyrian Shore,
Assist my trembling Muse, whilst I rehearse
Thy mighty Triumphs in immortal Verse;
In lofty Numbers thou may'st justly claim,
Due to thy great Commands and to thy Name;
And suffer 'mong the conq'ring Laurels now
The humble Ivy to adorn thy Brow.
Scarce had the Shades of Night forsook the Sky,
And the cool Dew on tender Grass to lie,
When Damon to repeat his am'rous Song,
Reclining 'gainst an Olive thus begun.
DAM.
Of slighted Love and Witchcraft both complains.
The wondering Cattle quite forget their Food,
The Lynxes of their Verse amazed stood;
And the swift Flood takes on the Banks his Seat,
While we the Swains rejected Songs repeat.
And thou great Prince, whether thou passest o'er
Timavus Rocks or Coasts th'Illyrian Shore,
Assist my trembling Muse, whilst I rehearse
Thy mighty Triumphs in immortal Verse;
In lofty Numbers thou may'st justly claim,
Due to thy great Commands and to thy Name;
182
The humble Ivy to adorn thy Brow.
Scarce had the Shades of Night forsook the Sky,
And the cool Dew on tender Grass to lie,
When Damon to repeat his am'rous Song,
Reclining 'gainst an Olive thus begun.
Bright Lucifer, thou that prepares the way
Before the Sun, for the approaching Day;
Go on, whilst I of Nisa's Perjury complain,
Cry to the Gods for Aid, but all in vain;
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Before the Sun, for the approaching Day;
Go on, whilst I of Nisa's Perjury complain,
Cry to the Gods for Aid, but all in vain;
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Mæn'lus does always hear the ecchoing Groves,
The lofty Pines, and Swains distressed Loves;
And active Reeds were still imploy'd by Pan,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
The lofty Pines, and Swains distressed Loves;
And active Reeds were still imploy'd by Pan,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Fair Nisa's Charms on Mopsus are bestow'd,
Hopes are for ev'ry Lover now allow'd.
Now may the Horse and Gryphin friendly greet,
And tim'rous Deer with Dogs at watring meet;
Cut your fresh Torches Mopsus, opportunely made,
You now have got a Wife to light to Bed;
Disperse thy Nuts about to please the Boys,
And solace all the Night in Nuptial Joys.
Hesper forsakes his Bed, while I complain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Hopes are for ev'ry Lover now allow'd.
Now may the Horse and Gryphin friendly greet,
And tim'rous Deer with Dogs at watring meet;
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You now have got a Wife to light to Bed;
Disperse thy Nuts about to please the Boys,
And solace all the Night in Nuptial Joys.
Hesper forsakes his Bed, while I complain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
You are well match'd, and slight the courting Swain,
Whilst you with Pride my Pipe and Goats disdain.
Careless, distracted now my Looks appear,
My comely Chin o'er-spread with bushy Hair,
As if the Gods regarded not my Pain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Whilst you with Pride my Pipe and Goats disdain.
Careless, distracted now my Looks appear,
My comely Chin o'er-spread with bushy Hair,
As if the Gods regarded not my Pain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
I was the forward Lad, when in our Ground,
Gath'ring of ruddy Apples, you I found,
Though scarce arriv'd to Thirteen Years of Age,
The yielding Boughs for you I did engage;
But as I look'd I dy'd, and gather'd all in vain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Gath'ring of ruddy Apples, you I found,
Though scarce arriv'd to Thirteen Years of Age,
The yielding Boughs for you I did engage;
But as I look'd I dy'd, and gather'd all in vain,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
184
I know what Love is now, its Birth must be
On horrid Smaros, or cold Rhodope,
Or Libya's wild supplies thy barb'rous Veins,
Begin my Pipe, with me, begin Mænalian Strains.
On horrid Smaros, or cold Rhodope,
Or Libya's wild supplies thy barb'rous Veins,
Begin my Pipe, with me, begin Mænalian Strains.
Dire Love, first taught the Mother's Hand to Sin,
And with her Children's Blood she did begin.
Inhuman Parent! To destroy her own,
Was she more cruel, or her impious Son?
The Boy was base, her Cruelty remains,
Begin my Pipe, with me, begin Mænalian Strains.
And with her Children's Blood she did begin.
Inhuman Parent! To destroy her own,
Was she more cruel, or her impious Son?
The Boy was base, her Cruelty remains,
Begin my Pipe, with me, begin Mænalian Strains.
Hence let the tender Sheep the Wolves provoke
And golden Apples bud upon the Oak,
The Alder bear Narcissus gentle Flow'r,
And ev'ry Shrub the purest Amber pour.
With Swans, the Owls contend on ev'ry Tree,
And Tyt'rus, Orpheus, in the Woods with Thee.
The Dolphins with Arion on the Main,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
And golden Apples bud upon the Oak,
The Alder bear Narcissus gentle Flow'r,
And ev'ry Shrub the purest Amber pour.
With Swans, the Owls contend on ev'ry Tree,
And Tyt'rus, Orpheus, in the Woods with Thee.
The Dolphins with Arion on the Main,
Begin my Pipe, with me, play the Mænalian Strain.
Let all things find a different Course to live,
Ye Sylvan Shades your verdure still survive,
From yonder Precipice I'll take my flight,
And drench my self in Floods far from her sight.
This Legacy bestows a dying Man,
Cease now my Pipe, cease the Mænalian Strain.
Ye Sylvan Shades your verdure still survive,
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And drench my self in Floods far from her sight.
This Legacy bestows a dying Man,
Cease now my Pipe, cease the Mænalian Strain.
These Words poor Damon spoke without disguise
To which Alphæsibæus thus replies;
The sacred Muses their Decrees can tell,
All Men alike all things cannot reveal.
To which Alphæsibæus thus replies;
The sacred Muses their Decrees can tell,
All Men alike all things cannot reveal.
ALPH.
Bring me some Water here, this Altar fence
Around, with Vervain, Oyl and Frankincense,
That by some sacred Magick I may find
A certain way to change his fickle Mind;
Nothing is wanting, but my Charms remain
To bring home Daphnis from the Town again.
Around, with Vervain, Oyl and Frankincense,
That by some sacred Magick I may find
A certain way to change his fickle Mind;
Nothing is wanting, but my Charms remain
To bring home Daphnis from the Town again.
For Charms will make the Moon dance from her Sphere,
Ulysses Friends by Charms transformed were:
Charms will in Fields, destroy the deadly Snake,
And from the Town my Charms bring Daphnis back.
Ulysses Friends by Charms transformed were:
Charms will in Fields, destroy the deadly Snake,
And from the Town my Charms bring Daphnis back.
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Thrice round his Head Three Fillets tye
Of various Colours and of different Dye,
Thrice round these Altars bear his Effigie.
In the odd Count the Gods some pleasure take,
Then from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back.
Of various Colours and of different Dye,
Thrice round these Altars bear his Effigie.
In the odd Count the Gods some pleasure take,
Then from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back.
Three different Dyes let Amarillis bring,
And tye in treble Knots the Magick String,
Then say, these are Love's mystick Knots I make,
Now from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back.
And tye in treble Knots the Magick String,
Then say, these are Love's mystick Knots I make,
Now from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back.
As Fire melts Wax, or hardens stubborn Clay,
So shall my Love make Daphnis Heart obey.
Sprinkle the Cake, and burn with sulph'rous Steem
The crackling Laurel, Daphnis does the same,
And I for him this raging Fire maintain,
To bring back Daphnis to my Arms again.
So shall my Love make Daphnis Heart obey.
Sprinkle the Cake, and burn with sulph'rous Steem
The crackling Laurel, Daphnis does the same,
And I for him this raging Fire maintain,
To bring back Daphnis to my Arms again.
Daphnis is seiz'd with such desiring Love
As a young Heifer that around does rove,
To seek the Bull through ev'ry Copse and Grove.
Near purling Streams, on the green Bank lies down
Lost to her self nor thinks the Night comes on,
When to the expecting Herd she shou'd return.
Such is fond Daphnis Love, nor shall I ease his Pain,
Oh let my Charms from thence bring Daphnis back again.
As a young Heifer that around does rove,
To seek the Bull through ev'ry Copse and Grove.
187
Lost to her self nor thinks the Night comes on,
When to the expecting Herd she shou'd return.
Such is fond Daphnis Love, nor shall I ease his Pain,
Oh let my Charms from thence bring Daphnis back again.
The Perjur'd Man these Garments left behind
The only Pledge remaining that he once was kind,
Which after him to Earth shall be confin'd.
These Pledges I bestow for Daphnis sake,
Then from the Town, my Charms bring Daphnis back.
The only Pledge remaining that he once was kind,
Which after him to Earth shall be confin'd.
These Pledges I bestow for Daphnis sake,
Then from the Town, my Charms bring Daphnis back.
Mœris on me these poys'nous Drugs bestows,
Plenty whereof in Pontus daily grows:
With these into a Wolf he's often chang'd
Himself, and in the Woods at large has rang'd;
Often I've seen him from the Grave return,
Poor wand'ring Souls, that in dark Regions mourn,
Remove to his own Fields anothers standing Grain,
Then from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back again.
Plenty whereof in Pontus daily grows:
With these into a Wolf he's often chang'd
Himself, and in the Woods at large has rang'd;
Often I've seen him from the Grave return,
Poor wand'ring Souls, that in dark Regions mourn,
Remove to his own Fields anothers standing Grain,
Then from the Town, my Charms, bring Daphnis back again.
188
The sacred Ashes Amaryllis bring,
And throw 'em o'er thy Head into the running Spring.
Look not behind, these Rites for Daphnis are,
Who slights the Gods and Philters we prepare,
Bring back, ye sacred Herbs, and powerful Charms,
Bring back lov'd Daphnis to my longing Arms.
And throw 'em o'er thy Head into the running Spring.
Look not behind, these Rites for Daphnis are,
Who slights the Gods and Philters we prepare,
Bring back, ye sacred Herbs, and powerful Charms,
Bring back lov'd Daphnis to my longing Arms.
See now the Ashes round our Altar play
And of themselves their trembling Flames display,
Whilst in suspence I'm kept with his delay.
I know not what the Omen means, but hark,
There Hylax at the Door begins to bark.
We must believe the best, as those that love
Their Dreams to their own Fancies still improve;
Then Amaryllis let's forbear our Charms,
I've brought my Daphnis to my longing Arms.
And of themselves their trembling Flames display,
Whilst in suspence I'm kept with his delay.
I know not what the Omen means, but hark,
There Hylax at the Door begins to bark.
We must believe the best, as those that love
Their Dreams to their own Fancies still improve;
Then Amaryllis let's forbear our Charms,
I've brought my Daphnis to my longing Arms.
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