Poems, chiefly pastoral :: :: University of Virginia Library

From the high mount , whence sacred groves depend,
Diana and her virgin troop descend;
And while the buskin'd maids with active care,
The business of the daily chace prepare,
A favourite nymph steps forward from the throng,
And thus, exulting, swells the jovial song.

Air.

Jolly Health springs aloft at the loud sounding horn,
Unlock'd from soft slumber's embrace;
And Joy sings an hymn to salute the sweet morn,
That smiles on the nymphs of the chace:
The rage of fell Cupid no bosom prophanes,
No rancour disturbs our delight,

143

All the day with fresh vigour we sweep o'er the plains,
And sleep with contentment all night.

Recit.

Their clamour rous'd the slighted God of Love:
He flies, indignant, to the sacred grove:
Immortal myrtles wreath his golden hair,
His rosy wings perfume the wanton air;
Two quivers fill'd with darts his fell designs declare.
A crimsom blush o'erspread Diana's face,
A frown succeeds—She stops the springing chace,
And thus, forbids the boy the consecrated place.

Air.

Fond disturber of the heart,
From these sacred shades depart:
Here's a blooming troop disdains
Love, and his fantastic chains.
Sisters of the silver bow,
Pure and chaste as virgin snow,
Melt not at thy feeble fires,
Wanton God of wild desires!

144

Recit.

Rage and revenge divide Love's little breast,
Whilst thus the angry Goddess he addrest:

Air.

Virgin snow does oft remain
Long unmelted on the plain,
'Till the glorious God of day
Smiles, and wastes its pride away.

What is Sol's meridian fire
To the darts of strong desire!
Love can light a raging flame
Hotter than his noontide beam.

Recit.

Now, through the forest's brown embower'd ways,
With careless steps the young Endymion strays:
His form erect!—loose flows his lovely hair,
His glowing cheeks like youthful Hebe's fair!
His graceful limbs with ease and vigour move,
His eyes—his ev'ry feature form'd for love:
Around the list'ning woods attentive hung,
Whilst thus, invoking sleep, the shepherd sung:

145

Air.

Where the pebbled streamlet glides
Near the wood nymph's rustic grot.
If the God of Sleep resides,
Or in Pan's sequester'd cot:
Hither if he'll lightly tread,
Follow'd by a gentle dream,
We'll enjoy this grassy bed,
On the bank beside the stream.

Recit.

As on the painted turf the shepherd lies,
Sleep's downy curtain shades his lovely eyes;
And now a sporting breeze his bosom shews,
As marble smooth, and white as Alpine snows:
The Goddess gaz'd, in magic softness bound;
Her silver bow falls useless to the ground?
Love laugh'd, and, sure of conquest, wing'd a dart
Unerring, to her undefended heart.
She feels in ev'ry vein the fatal fire,
And thus persuades her virgins to retire:

Air.

I

Ye tender maids be timely wise!
Love's wanton fury shun!
In flight alone your safety lies,
The daring are undone!

146

II

Do blue-ey'd doves, serenely mild,
With vultures, fell, engage!
Do lambs provoke the lion wild,
Or tempt the tyger's rage!

III

No, no, like fawns, ye virgins fly,
To secret cells remove;
Nor dare the doubtful combat try
'Twixt Chastity and Love.

Mount Latmos.