DAMON. Cease to contend, for, Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee: Bleft Swains, whofe Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel; Bleft Nymphs, whofe Swains thofe graces fing fo well! 96 Now rife, and hafte to yonder woodbine bow'rs, A foft retreat from fudden vernal show'rs; The turf with rural dainties fhall be crown'd, While op'ning blooms diffuse their sweets around. For fee! the gath'ring flocks to fhelter tend, And from the Pleiads fruitful fhow'rs defcend. VARIATIONS. VER. 99. was originally, The turf with country dainties shall be spread, ΙΟΙ 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 firft 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, NOTES. VER. 3. The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide; fuitable to the heat of the season; the time noon. Soft as he mourn'd, the ftreams forgot to flow, Accept, O GARTH, the Mufe's early lays, Why art thou prouder and more hard than they? While in thy heart eternal winter reigns. NOTES. VER. 9. Dr. Samuel Garth, Author of the Difpenfary, was one of the first friends of the Author, whofe acquaintance with him began at fourteen or fifteen. Their friendship continued from the year 1703 to 1718, which was that of his death. VER. 16. The woods shall answer, and their echo ring,] Is a line out of Spenfer's Epithalamion. IMITATIONS. VER. 8. And Jove confented] Jupiter et læto defcendet plurimus imbri. Virg. VER. 15. nor to the deaf I fing,] Non canimus furdis, refpondent omnia fylvæ. Virg. Where ftray ye Muses, in what lawn or grove, While your Alexis pines in hopeless love? In those fair fields where facred Ifis glides, Or else where Cam his winding vales divides ? As in the crystal fpring I view my face, Fresh rifing blushes paint the wat'ry glass; But fince thofe graces please thy eyes no more, I fhun the fountains which I fought before. Once I was skill'd in ev'ry herb that grew, And ev'ry plant that drinks the morning dew; Ah wretched fhepherd, what avails thy art, To cure thy lambs, but not to heal thy heart! Let other fwains attend the rural care, Feed fairer flocks, or richer fleeces fheer: VER. 27. VARIATIONS. Oft in the crystal spring I caft a view, And equal'd Hylas, if the glass be true; But fince thofe graces meet my eyes no more, IMITATIONS. VER. 23. Where fray ye Muses, etc ] ย Quæ nemora, aut qui vos faltus habuere, puellæ V Virg. out of Theocr. 25 39 EIAN VER. 27. Virgil again from the Cyclops of Theocritus, Cum placidum ventis ftaret mare; non ego Daphnim, 35 But nigh yon' mountain let me tune my lays, Oh! were I made by fome transforming pow'r 45 And yet my numbers please the rural throng, NOTES. 55 VER. 39. Colin] The name taken by Spenfer in his Eclogues, where his miftrefs is celebrated under that of Rofalinda. IMITATIONS. VER. 40. bequeath'd in death; etc.] Virg. Ecl. ii. |