Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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POMONA:
A PASTORAL.
(On the Cyder Bill being passed.)
I
From orchards of ample extent,Pomona's compell'd to depart;
And thus, as in anguish she went,
The Goddess unburthen'd her heart:
II
“To flourish where Liberty reigns,“Was all my fond wishes requir'd;
“And here I agreed with the swains
“To live 'till their freedom expir'd.
III
“Of late you have number'd my trees,“And threaten'd to limit my store:
“Alas—from such maxims as these,
“I fear that your freedom's no more.
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IV
“My flight will be fatal to May:“For how can her gardens be fine?
“The blossoms are doom'd to decay,
“(The blossoms, I mean, that were mine.)
V
“Rich Autumn remembers me well:“My fruitage was fair to behold!
“My pears—how I ripen'd their swell!
“My pippins!—were pippins of gold!
VI
“Let Ceres drudge on with her ploughs!“She droops as she furrows the soil;
“A nectar I shake from my boughs,
“A nectar that softens my toil.
VII
“When Bacchus began to repine,“With patience I bore his abuse;
“He said that I plunder'd the vine,
“He said that I pilfer'd his juice.
VIII
“I know the proud drunkard denies“That trees of my culture should grow:
“But let not the traitor advise;
“He comes from the climes of your foe.
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IX
“Alas! in your silence I read“The sentence I'm doom'd to deplore:
“'Tis plain the great Pan has decreed,
“My orchard shall flourish no more.”
X
The Goddess flew off in despair;As all her sweet honours declin'd:
And Plenty and Pleasure declare,
They'll loiter no longer behind.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |