SUM MMER: THE SECOND PASTORAL, OR, ALEX IS. A To Dr. GARTH. Shepherd's Boy (he feeks no better name) Led forth his flocks along the filver Thame, Where dancing fun-beams on the waters play'd, And verdant alders form'd a quiv'ring shade. VARIATIONS. VER. 1, 2, 3, 4. were thus printed in the first edition : Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads VER. 3. Originally thus in the MS. There to the winds he plain'd his hapless love, And Amaryllis fill'd the vocal grove. REMARK S. VER. 3. The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide; fuitable to the heat of the feafon; the time noon. P. Η Soft as he mourn'd, the ftreams forgot to flow, 5 Accept, O GARTH, the Mufe's early lays, That adds this wreath of ivy to thy bays; Hear what from Love unpractis'd hearts endure, From Love, the fole disease thou canst not cure. Ye fhady beeches, and ye cooling ftreams, Defence from Phoebus', not from Cupid's beams, To you I mourn, nor to the deaf I fing, The woods fhall anfwer, and their echo ring. The hills and rocks attend my doleful lay, Why art thou prouder and more hard than they? The bleating fheep with my complaints agree, They parch'd with heat, and I inflam'd by thee. 29 REMARKS. 15 VER. 9. Dr. Samuel Garth, Author of the Dispensary, was one of the first friends of the Author, whofe acquaint ance with him began at fourteen or fifteen. Their friendhip continued from the year 1703 to 1718, which was that of his death. P. VER. 16. The woods fhall answer, and their echo ring. Is a line out of Spenfer's Epithalamion. P. IMITATIONS. VER. 8. And Jove confented] Jupiter et læto defcendet plurimus imbri. Virg. P. VER. 15. nor to the deaf I fing,] Non canimus furdis, refpondent omnia fylvæ. Virg. P. The fultry Sirius burns the thirsty plains, Where ftray ye, Mufes, in what lawn or grove, While your Alexis pines in hopeless love? In those fair fields where facred Ifis glides, 25 Or else where Cam his winding vales divides? As in the crystal spring I view my face, Fresh rising blushes paint the wat'ry glass; But fince those graces please thy eyes no more, I shun the fountains which I fought before. 30 Once I was skill'd in ev'ry herb that grew, And ev'ry plant that drinks the morning dew; VER. 27. VARIATIONS. Oft in the cryftal fpring I caft a view, But fince thofe graces meet my eyes no more, REMARK S. VER. 39. Colin] The name taken by Spenfer in his Eclogues, where his miftrefs is celebrated under that of Rofalinda. P. IMITATIONS. VER. 23. Where ftray ye, Muses, etc.] Quæ nemora, aut qui vos faltus habuere, puellæ Virg. out of Theocr. P. VER. 27. Virgil again, from the Cyclops of Theocritus, nuper me in littore vidi, Cum placidum ventis ftaret mare; non ego Daphnim, Ah wretched shepherd, what avails thy art, 40 To cure thy lambs, but not to heal thy heart! And yet my numbers please the rural throng, Rough Satyrs dance, and Pan applauds the fong: The Nymphs, forfaking ev'ry cave and spring, 51 Their early fruit, and milk-white turtles bring! Each am'rous nymph prefers her gifts in vain, On you their gifts are all bestow'd again. IMITATIONS. VER: 40. bequeath'd in death, etc.] Virg. Ecl. ii. For you the swains the fairest flow'rs defign, 55 See what delights in fylvan fcenes appear! When weary reapers quit the fultry field, 65 And crown'd with corn their thanks to Ceres yield. This harmless grove no lurking viper hides, Here bees from bloffoms fip the rofy dew, But your Alexis knows no fweets but you. 70 The mofly fountains, and the green retreats! Where'er you walk, cool gales fhall fan the glade, Trees, where you fit, fhall croud into a shade: IMITATION S. VER. 60. Defcending Gods have found Elyftum here.] Et formofus oves ad flumina pavit Adonis. Idem. P. |