Poems upon Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Nisa.

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In Imitation of the Shepherd Damon's Complaint, in the Eighth Eclogue of Virgil.

Frigida vix Cœlo noctis decesserat Umbra, &c.

I

Scarce was the Nights cold Shadow from the Skies
Withdrawn, when the fresh Dew, that lies
Upon the tender Grass, doth entertain
The Flocks with a fat tastful Feast,
Damon, whose Eyes had found no rest
(Rest, which unhappy Lovers seek in vain)
Thus, leaning on his Staff, poor Damon did complain.

II

Rise Lucifer, and bring the Day along,
Arise, and listen to my Song,

My latest Song, which in my dying Hour,
Rob'd of the Comfort of my Life,
Nisa my promis'd Wife,
I to the happy Gods above do pour;
Tho' them in vain I've call'd to witness heretofore,

III

Thou sacred Hill, upon whose lofty Brow
Shrill Woods, and speaking Pines do grow,
Who Shepherd's tuneful Loves dost always hear;
And Pan who first of all did bring
The Reeds harmoniously to sing;
Thou sacred Hill, and vocal Wood draw near:
Such a sad Song as mine ne'er touch'd your wakeful Ear.

IV

Fair Nisa does her self on Mopsus throw,
What may not Lovers hope for now?
The golden Age (of which old Poets spake)
Is come: now Contraries agree,
And Nature is all Sympathy.

At sight of Hounds the Deer no more shall quake;
The Vulture and the Dove shall leagues of Friendship make.

V

Thou shalt be married, Mopsus, go provide,
The sponsal Cake, and fetch the Bride:
With Roses let the genial Couch be spread.
Blest Man! Night's golden Harbinger
(Whom lovely Venus holds so dear)
For thee will earlier lift his sacred Head
From Oeta's loved Lap, to light thee to thy Bed.

VI

Thou, who a scornful Eye on all didst cast,
Lo! what a worthy Choice at last
Thou'st made! fair Virgin, look again and see;
Look e'er too late it prove,
What Trifles they're, which move
Thee to abandon thy giv'n Faith, and me,
And bleating Flocks, and cheerful Songs, and vert'ous Poverty.

VII

Let none perswade thee to believe, dear Love,
That the unactive Gods above
Regard not what is done of Men below:
Amidst thy var'ous Luxuries,
And all the Court's deceitful Joys,
Their Plagues will find thee out and make thee know
What 'tis for filthy Lucres-sake to break thy Nuptial Vow.

VIII

'Twas in the Orchard first I saw my Dear,
Gath'ring of golden Apples there.
Just Thirteen winged Summers then were flown
Over thy beauteous Head, and thou
Could'st just reach up to th' laden Bough:
A sweet but mortal Fever swiftly run
Through all my Veins, I came, and saw, and was undone.

IX

Now to my cost, alas! I'm made to prove
Th' unnat'ral Cruelty of Love.

Ah barb'rous wretch! who made th' a Deity?
From some rough Mountain's hollow Womb
In Wales or Scotland thou didst come:
Proud Boy, thou'rt of a baser Blood than we;
The Devil thee begat, the Furies suckled thee.

X

What wicked Deeds have not by Love been wrought?
What false and faithless Doctrines taught?
The most religious sacred Bonds, that e'er
Nature, or God himself did make,
The impious Boy doth proudly break.
By him her rev'rend Father's Purple Hair
Scylla cut off, and gave his Crown to her Adulterer.

XI

By him the natural Mother in the Blood
Of her own Sons her Hands imbru'd.
Ah! cruel Mother! wicked Boy! O say
Which of the Two shall we
Conclude the worse to be,

Him that advis'd, or her that did obey?
Both, both alike: but none beside so bad as they.

XII

Now from young Lambs let the Woolf run for fear,
Now let the Thistle Roses bear.
Let precious Amber sweat from ev'ry Tree.
Let Oaks with golden Apples bend,
Let Owls for Voice with Swans contend:
Let Baker now with Cowley equall'd be,
Cowley who lost his well-sung Love, no less than he.

XIII

Let all things back to their old Chaos run,
Let Horror and Confusion
Themselves through all th' amuzed World disperse.
Farewel, ye Woods, farewel, for I
To Shades more melancholy fly:
Nisa, farewel. Be this my latest Verse,
With which I here adorn thy Marri'ge, and my Herse.