Poems, moral and descriptive By the late Richard Jago ... (Prepared for the press, and improved by the author, before his death.) To which is added, some account of the life and writings of Mr. Jago |
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 | Poems, moral and descriptive |  |
SCENE I.
RECITATIVE.
Under a tuft of shade, that, on a green,Stood whisp'ring soft, on Eden's blissful plain,
Sate the first human Pair. (Not that fair Field
Of Enna, where Proserpine, gath'ring flow'rs,
Herself, a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis
Was gather'd; nor that sweet Elysian Grove
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th'inspir'd
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Of Eden strive: nor that Nysean Isle,
Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,
Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Lybian Jove,
Hid Amalthea, and her florid son,
Young Bacchus from his step-dame Rhea's eye—
Nor where Abassine kings their issue guard,
Mount Amara! enclos'd with shining rock,
A whole day's journey high.) Around them grew
All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste,
And all amid them grew the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and, next to Life,
Our Death! the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by.
Here waving boughs wept od'rous gums, and balm:
On others fruit, burnish'd with golden rind,
Hung amiable: betwixt them lawns, and downs,
Or palmy hillock, or the flow'ry lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store,
Flow'rs of all hues, and without thorn the rose.
Another side umbrageous grots, and caves
Of cool recess! o'er which the mantling vine
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Luxuriant. Mean while murm'ring waters fall
Down the slope hills dispers'd, or, in a lake,
That to the fringed bank, with myrtle crown'd,
Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams.
The birds their quire apply—airs, vernal airs
Breathing the smell of field, or grove attune
The trembling leaves, and whisper whence they stole
Their balmy spoils. About them frisking play'd
All beasts of th'earth, since wild, and of all chase
In wood, or wilderness, forest, or den.
Sporting the lion ramp'd, and, in his paw,
Dandled the kid. Bears, tygers, ounces, pards
Gambol'd before them. Th'unwieldy elephant,
To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd
His lithe proboscis. Close the serpent sly,
Insinuating, wove, with Gordian twine,
His braided train, and, of his fatal guile
Gave proof unheeded. They superior sate
As lords of all, of God-like shape erect!
For valour he, and contemplation form'd,
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace!
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AIR.
“They superior sate,“As lords of all, of God-like shape erect!
“For valour he, and contemplation form'd,
“For softness she, and sweet attractive grace!”
| Poems, moral and descriptive | |