Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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DAMON AND PHOEBE. |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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DAMON AND PHOEBE.
I
When the sweet rosey morning first peep'd from the skies,A loud singing lark bade the villagers rise;
The cowslips were lively—the primroses gay,
And shed their best perfumes to welcome the May:
The swains and their sweethearts all rang'd on the green,
Did homage to Phœbe—and hail'd her their Queen.
II
Young Damon step'd forward: he sung in her praise,And Phœbe bestow'd him a garland of bays:
May this wreathe, said the fair one, dear Lord of my vows,
A crown for true merit, bloom long on thy brows:
The swains and their sweethearts that danc'd on the green,
Approv'd the fond present of Phœbe their Queen.
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III
'Mongst lords and fine ladies, we shepherds are told,The dearest affections are barter'd for gold;
That discord in wedlock is often their lot,
While Cupid and Hymen shake hands in a cot:
At the church with fair Phœbe since Damon has been,
He's rich as a Monarch—she's blest as a Queen.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |