O early loft! what tears the river shed, And on his willows hung each Mufe's lyre. Since fate relentless stop'd their heav'nly voice, 275 No more the forefts ring, or groves rejoice; Who now fhall charm the fhades, where CowLEY ftrung His living harp, and lofty DENHAM fung? But hark! the groves rejoice, the foreft rings ! VARIATIONS. With transport vifit each infpiring fhade VER. 273. 285 What fighs, what murmurs, fill'd the vocal fhore! His tuneful fwans were heard to fing no more. P. VER. 288. her filver ftar.] All the lines that follow were not added to the poem till the year 1710. What NOTES. the foreft, and was from thence convey'd to Westminster. P. Here noble SURREY felt the facred rage, SURREY, the GRANVILLE of a former age: Matchless his pen, victorious was his lance, Bold in the lifts, and graceful in the dance: In the fame fhades the Cupids tun'd his lyre, To the fame notes, of love, and soft defire: Fair Geraldine, bright object of his vow, Then fill'd the groves, as heav'nly Mira now. 290 295 Oh would'st thou fing what heroes Windfor bore, What kings firft breath'd upon her winding shore, Or raise old warriours, whofe ador'd remains In weeping vaults her hallow'd earth contains! 300 With Edward's acts adorn the fhining page, Stretch his long triumphs down thro' ev'ry age, Draw monarchs chain'd, and Creffi's glorious field, The lilies blazing on the regal fhield: VARIATIONS. immediately followed this, and made the conclufion, were these, My humble Mufe in unambitious strains Paints the green forests and the flow'ry plains; Where I obfcurely pafs my careless days, Enough for me that to the lift'ning fwains NOTES. VER. 289 Here noble Surry] Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, one of the first refiners of the English poetry; who flourish'd in the time of Henry VIII. P. VER. 301. Edward's acts] Edward III. born here. P. Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, 306 Still in thy fong fhould vanquifh'd France appear, And bleed for ever under Britain's fpear. Let fofter ftrains ill-fated Henry mourn, And palms eternal flourish round his urn. 310 The grave unites; where ev'n the Great find reft, bled? She faw her fons with purple death expire, VARIATION S. VER. 305. Originally thus in the MS. 320 When Brafs decays, when Trophies lie o'er-thrown, VER. 319. Originally thus in the MS. Oh fact accurft! oh facrilegious brood, Sworn to Rebellion, principled in blood! Since that dire morn what tears has Albion shed, Gods! what new wounds, etc. NOTES. VER. 309. Henry mourn] Henry VI. P. VER. 312. once-fear'd Edward fleeps:] Edward IV. P. A dreadful series of inteftine wars, Inglorious triumphs and difhoneft scars, 324 The figur'd ftreams in waves of filver roll'd, Around his throne the fea-born brothers ftood, 335 First the fam'd authors of his ancient name, The winding Ifis and the fruitful Tame: Till Anna rofe and bade the Furies cease; Let there be peace-she said, and all was Peace. Between Verse 328 and 329, originally flood these lines, From shore to fhore exulting shouts he heard, The Kennet swift, for filver eels renown'd; And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky wave: And fullen Mole, that hides his diving flood; And filent Darent, ftain'd with Danish blood. High in the midft, upon his urn reclin❜d, (His fea-green mantle waving with the wind) 345 349 ; Hail, facred Peace! hail long-expected days, That Thames's glory to the stars shall raise; Tho' Tyber's streams immortal Rome behold, 355 Tho' foaming Hermus fwells with tides of gold, From heav'n itself tho' fev'n-fold Nilus flows, And harvests on a hundred realms bestows; These now no more shall be the Mufe's themes, Loft in my fame, as in the fea their streams. Let Volga's banks with iron squadrons shine, And groves of lances glitter on the Rhine, VARIATIONS. VER. 361. Originally thus in the MS. 360 Let Venice boast her Tow'rs amidst the Main, |