94 To the banks a ruffled tide Verges in successive rings. XXVI. Tripping thro' the silken grass, XXVII. Linnets with unnumber'd notes, PALEMON: A PASTORAL. PALEMON, seated by his fav'rite maid, PALEMON. This breeze by the river how charming How smooth the grass-carpet! how green! [and soft! Sweet, sweet sings the lark! as he carols aloft His music enlivens the scene. A thousand fresh flow'rets unusuallygay The fields and the forests adorn; I pluck'd me some roses, the children of May, And could not find one with a thorn. ALEXIS. The skies are quite clouded, too bold is the Dull vapours descend on the plain; [breeze, The verdure's all blasted that cover'd yon' trees, The birds cannot compass a strain: In search for a chaplet my temples to bind All day as I silently rove, I can't find a flow'ret (not one to my mind) In meadow, in garden, or grove. PALEMON. I ne'er saw the hedge in such excellent The lambkins so wantonly gay; [bloom, My cows seem to breathe a more pleasing perfume, And brighter than common the day. If any dull shepherd should foolishly ask So rich why the landscapes appear? To give a right answer how easy my task! Because my sweet Phillida's here. ALEXIS. The stream that so muddy moves slowly Once roll'd in a beautiful tide; It seem'd o'er the pebbles to murmur a song, But Daphne sat then by my side. [along See, see the lov'd Maid! o'er the meadows she hies Quite alter'd already the scene! How limpid the stream is! how gay the blue skies! The hills and the hedges how green! ΡΟΜΟΝΑ. A PASTORAL. On the Cyder-Bll being passed. I. FROM orchards of ample extent 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 have you 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. 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. IX. "Alas! in your silence I read "The sentence I'm doom'd to deplore: "'Tis plain the great Pan has decreed 66 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. I A PASTORAL. I. THE gentle swan, with graceful pride, Her glossy plumage laves, And, sailing down the silver tide, The silver tide, that wand'ring flows, But not so sweet---blithe Cupid knows, II. A parent bird, in plaintive mood, On yonder fruit-tree sung, And still the pendent nest she view'd Dear to the mother's flutt'ring heart III. The roses that my brows surround Were natives of the dale; Scarce pluck'd, and in the garland bound, Before their sweets grew pale! |