"Occasion'd (I confess my shame)

66

By childishness and pride.

XII.

"For in a kiss, or two, or three,

"No mischief could be found; "Then had I been more frank and free 66 My China had been sound."

DAMON AND PHOEBE.

I.

WHEN the sweet rosy Morning first peep'd from the A loud singing lark bade the villagers rise;

[skies,

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 Phoebe---and hail'd her their queen.

II.

Young Damon stepp'd forward: he sung in her praise, And Phoebe bestow'd him a garland of bays:

"May this wreath," said the fair one,

"of my vows!

"dear Lord

"A crown fortrue merit, bloom long on thy brows." 10 The swains and their sweethearts, that danc'd on the

green,

Approv'd the fond present of Phoebe their queen.

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 Phoebe since Damon has been, He's rich as a monarch---she's blest as a queen.

FORTUNE TO HARLEQUIN,

IN A PANTOMIME.

18

FROM

I.

м my favour sense rejected, Fools by Fortune are protected: Fortune, Harlequin! hath found you; Happiness will hence surround you.

*

II.

Should a thousand ills enclose you,
Quick contrivance this bestows you.
Valour makes the fair adore you;
This shall drive your foes before you.

Gold's the mighty source of pleasure;
Take this purse of magic treasure.
Go---for while my gifts befriend you,
Joy and Jollity attend you.

CLARINDA.

I.

CLARINDA's lips I fondly prest,
While rapture fill'd each vein,
And as I touch'd her downy breast
Its tenant slept serene.

II.

So soft a calm in such a part
Betrays a peaceful mind;
Whilst my uneasy flutt'ring heart
Would scarcely be confin'd.

III.

A stubborn oak the shepherd sees
Unmov'd when storms descend;
But, ah! to ev'ry sporting breeze
The myrtle bough must bend.

ON THE APPROACH OF MAY.

I.

THE Virgin, when soften'd by May,

Attends to the villager's vows;

The birds sweetly bill on the spray,

And poplars embrace with their boughs.`

On Ida bright Venus may reign,
Ador'd for her beauty above;
We shepherds that dwell on the plain
Hail May as the mother of Love.

11.

From the west as it wantonly blows
Fond Zephyr caresses the vine,

The bee steals a kiss from the rose,
And willows and woodbines entwine.

The pinks by the rivulet side,
That border the vernal alcove,
Bend downward to kiss the soft tide;
For May is the mother of Love.

III.

May tinges the butterfly's wing;
He flutters in bridal array;
And if the wing'd foresters sing,

The music is taught them by May.

The stock-dove, recluse with her mate,
Conceals her fond bliss in the grove,

And murm'ring seems to repeat

That May is the mother of Love.

IV.

The goddess will visit you soon;
Ye Virgins! be sportive and gay:
Get your pipes, oh ye Shepherds! in tune,
For Music must welcome the May.

Would Damon have Phillis prove kind,
And all his keen anguish remove,
Let him tell her soft tales, and he'll find
That May is the mother of Love.

ON THE LATE

ABSENCE OF MAY.

Written in the Year 1771.

I.

THE rooks in the neighbouring grove
For shelter cry all the long day;
Their huts in the branches above
Are cover'd no longer by May.

The birds that so cheerfully sung,
Are silent, or plaintive each tone,
And, as they chirp low to their young,
The want of their goddess bemoan.

II.

No daisies or carpets of green

O'er Nature's cold bosom are spread; Not a sweet-brier sprig can be seen To finish this wreath for my head.

Some flow'rets indeed may be found, But these neither blooming nor gay; The fairest still sleep in the ground,

And wait for the coming of May!