ELEGY V. He compares the turbulence of love with the tranquillity of friendship. TO MELISSA, HIS FRIEND. FROM Love, from angry Love's inclement reign, My soul has yet surviv'd its dreariest time; Love is a pleasing, but a various clime! When Maro to these fragrant haunts retir'd! When Pliny, 'mid sulphureous clouds, expir'd! So smiles the surface of the treacherous main, As o'er its waves the peaceful halcyons play; E'en Hope subside amid the billows tost; ELEGY VI. ON THE LANGUAGE OF BIRDS. COME then, Dione, let us range the grove, And blame the gloom of solitude no more. Nor senseless ditty, cheers the vernal tree : Shall doubt that music may with sense agree? The slave of hopeless vows, and cold disdain! "Sing on, my bird-the liquid notes prolong, Ah could our music his complaints remove! Sing on, my bird, and hear thy mate's reply. "Erewhile no shepherd to these woods retir'd; No lover blest the glow-worm's pallid ray; But ill-starr'd birds, that listening not admir'd,, Or listening envy'd our superior lay. "Cheer'd by the Sun, the vassals of his power, Let such by day unite their jarring strains! But let us choose the calm, the silent hour, Nor want fit audience while Dione reigns." ELEGY VII. VIRG. He describes his vision to an acquaintance. No friendly planet lent its glimmering ray; The village cur 't were transport then to hear; The sounding winds were hush'd, and all was fair. Instant a grateful form appear'd confest; White were his locks with awful scarlet crown'd, And livelier far than Tyrian seem'd his vest, That with the glowing purple ting'd the ground. "Stranger," he said, " amid this pealing rain, Benighted, lonesome, whither wouldst thou stray? Does wealth or power thy weary step constrain? Reveal thy wish, and let me point the way. "For know, I trod the trophy'd paths of power; Felt every joy that fair ambition brings; And left the lonely roof of yonder bower, To stand beneath the canopies of kings. I snatch'd the shepherd from his fleecy care, "He, the dear youth, to whose abodes I roam, Nor can mine honours, nor my fields extend; Yes for his sake I leave my distant home, Which oaks embosom, and which hills defend. "Beneath that home I scorn the wintry wind; The Spring, to shade me, robes her fairest tree; And if a friend my grass-grown threshold find, O how my lonely cot resounds with glee! "Yet, though averse to gold in heaps amass'd, I wish to bless. I languish to bestow; And though no friend to Fame's obstreperous blast, Still, to her dulcet murmurs not a foe. "Too proud with servile tone to deign address; Too mean to think that honours are my due, Yet should some patron yield my stores to bless, I sure should deem my boundless thanks were few. "But tell me, thou! that, like a meteor's fire, Shot'st blazing forth; disdaining dull degrees; Should I to wealth, to fame, to power aspire, Must I not pass more rugged paths than these? "Must I not groan beneath a guilty load, Praise him I scorn, and him I love betray? Does not felonious Envy bar the road? Or Falsehood's treacherous foot beset the way? Say, should I pass through Favour's crowded gate, Must not fair Truth inglorious wait behind? Whilst I approach the glittering scenes of state, My best companion no admittance find? "Nurs'd in the shades by Freedom's lenient care, Shall I the rigid sway of Fortune own? Taught by the voice of pious Truth, prepare To spurn an altar, and adorn a throne? "And when proud Fortune's ebbing tide recedes, And when it leaves me no unshake friend, Shall I not weep that e'er I left the meads, Which oaks embosom, and which hills defend? "Oh! if these ills the price of power advance, Check not my speed where social joys invite!" The troubled vision cast a mournful glance, And, sighing, vanish'd in the shades of night. ELEGY VIII. He describes his early love of poetry, and its consequences. TO MR. GRAVES, 1745. [Written after the death of Mr Pope.] АH me! what envious magic thins my fold? What mutter'd spell retards their late increase? Such lessening fleeces must the swain behold, That e'er with Doric pipe essays to please. I saw my friends in evening circles mcet; I took my vocal reed, and tun'd my lay; I heard them say my vocal reed was sweet: Ah, fool! to credit what I heard them say! Ill-fated bard! that seeks his skill to show, Then courts the judgment of a friendly ear! Not the poor veteran, that permits his foe To guide his doubtful step, has more to fear. Nor could my Graves mistake the critic's laws, Till pious friendship mark'd the pleasing way: Welcome such errour! ever blest the cause! E'en though it led me boundless leagues astray: Couldst thou reprove me, when I nurs'd the flame On listening Cherwell's osier banks reclin'd? While, foe to Fortune, unseduc'd by Fame, I sooth'd the bias of a careless mind. Youth's gentle kindred, Health and Love were met! And swift spontaneous roses blush'd around. Ah might we now the pious rage control; Ere the deep swelling sigh subvert the soul! ELEGY IX. He describes his disinterestedness to a friend. I NE'ER must tinge my lip with Celtic wines; The pomp of India must I ne'er display; Nor boast the produce of Peruvian mines, Nor with Italian sounds deceive the day. Down yonder brook my crystal beverage flows; My grateful sheep their annual fleeces bring; Fair in my garden buds the damask rose, And, from my grove, I hear the throstle sing. My fellow swains! avert your dazzled eyes; In vain allur'd by glittering spoils they rove, The Fates ne'er meant them for the shepherd's prize, Yet gave them ample recompense in love. They gave you vigour from your parent's veins ; They gave you toils; but toils your sinews brace; They gave you nymphs, that own their amorous And shades, the refuge of the gentle race. [pains, To carve your loves, to paint your mutual flames, See! polish'd fair, the beech's friendly rind! To sing soft carols to your lovely dames, See vocal grots, and echoing vales assign'd! Wouldst thou, my Strephon, Love's delighted slave! Though sure the wreaths of chivalry to share, Forego the ribbon thy Matilda gave, And, giving, bade thee in remembrance wear? Ill fare my peace, but every idle toy, If to my mind my Delia's form it brings, Has truer worth, imparts sincerer joy, Than all that bears the radiant stamp of kings. my soul weeps, my breast with anguish bleeds, When Love deplores the tyrant power of Gain! Disdaining riches as the futile weeds, I rise superior, and the rich disdain. Oft from the stream, slow wandering down the glade, Pensive I hear the nuptial peal rebound; "Some miser weds," I cry, "the captive maid, And some fond lover sickens at the sound." Not Somerville, the Muse's friend of old, Though now exalted to yon ambient sky, So shunn'd a soul distain'd with earth and gold, So lov'd the pure, the generous breast, as I. Scorn'd be the wretch that quits his genial bowl, His loves, his friendships, e'en his self, resigns; Perverts the sacred instinct of his soul, And to a ducate's dirty sphere confines. But come, my friend, with taste, with science blest, Ere age impair me, and ere gold allure; Restore thy dear idea to my breast, The rich deposit shall the shrine secure. Let others toil to gain the sordid ore, The charms of independence let us sing; Blest with thy friendship, can I wish for more? I'll spurn the boasted wealth of Lydia's king. ELEGY X. TO FORTUNE; SUGGESTING HIS MOTIVE FOR REPINING AT HER DISPEN- Ask not the cause why this rebellious tongue Nor see my roof on Parian columns rise; I sing or pipe but to the flocks that graze; And, all inglorious, in the lonesome shade, My finger stiffens, and my voice decays. Not, that my fancy mrns thy stern command, When many an embryo dome is lost in air; While guardian Prudence checks my eager hand, And, ere the turf is broken, crics," Forbear! "Forbear, vain youth! be cautious, weigh thy gold, Nor let yon rising column more aspire; Ah! better dwell in ruins, than behold Thy fortunes mouldering and thy domes entire. "Honorio built, but dar'd my laws defy; He planted, scornful of my sage commands; The peach's vernal bud regal'd his eye; The fruitage ripen'd for more frugal hands." See the small stream that pours its murmuring tide O'er some rough rock that would its wealth disDisplays it aught but penury and pride? [play, Ah! construe wisely what such murmurs say. How would some flood, with ampler treasures blest, Disdainful view the scantling drops distil! How must Velino shake his reedy crest! How every cygnet mock the boastive rill! A river in Italy. Fortune, I yield! and see, I give the sign; At noon the poor mechanic wanders home; Collects the square, the level, and the line, And, with retorted eye, forsakes the dome, Yes, I can patient view the shadeless plains; Can unrepining leave the rising wall: Check the fond love of art that fir'd my veins, And my warm hopes in full pursuit, recal. Descend, ye storms! destroy my rising pile; Loos'd be the whirlwind's unremitting sway; Contented I, although the gazer smile, To see it scarce survive a winter's day. Let some dull dotard bask in thy gay shrine, As in the Sun regales his wanton herd; Guiltless of envy, why should I repine, That his rude voice, his grating reed's preferr'd? Let him exult, with boundless wealth supply'd, Mine and the swain's reluctant homage share; But ab his tawdry shepherdess's pride, Gods! must my Delia, must my Delia bear? Must Delia's softness, elegance, and ease, Submit to Marian's dress? to Marian's gold? Must Marian's robe from distant India please? The simple fleece my Delia's limbs enfold: "Yet sure on Delia seems the russet fair; Ye glittering daughters of disguise, adieu!” So talk the wise, who judge of shape and air, But will the rural thane decide so true? Ah! what is native worth esteem'd of clowns? 'Tis thy false glare, O Fortune! thine they see: 'Tis for my Delia's sake I dread thy frowns, And my last gasp shall curses breathe on thee.. ELEGY XI. He complains how soon the pleasing novelty of life is over. TO MR. JAGO. Ан me, my friend! it will not, will not last! The weaken'd passions, self-subdued, obey. Scarce has the Sun seven annual courses roll'd, Scarce shown the whole that Fortune can supply; Since, not the miser so caress'd his gold, As I, for what it gave, was heard to sigh. On the world's stage I wish'd some sprightly part; To deck my native fleece with tawdry lace! 'T was life, 't was taste, and-oh my foolish heart! Substantial joy was fix'd in power and place. And you, ye works of art! allur'd mine eye, The breathing picture, and the living stone [deny, "Though gold, though splendour, Heaven and Fate Yet might I call one Titian stroke my own!" Smit with the charms of Fame, whose lovely spoil, But soon the paths of Health and Fame divide ! I scorn the palm, before I reach the goal. O youth! enchanting state! profusely blest! Bliss e'en obtrusive courts the frolic mind; Of health neglectful, yet by health carest; Careless of favour yet secure to find. Then glows the breast, as opening roses fair; More free, more vivid, than the linnet's wing; Honest as light, transparent e'en as air, Tender as buds, and lavish as the Spring. Which gay delusion gave the tender mind. Again to trace the wintery tracks of snow! We start false joys, and urge the devious race: A tender prey; that cheers our youthful morn, Then sinks untimely, and defrauds the chase. No ELEGY XII. HIS RECANTATION. more the Muse obtrudes her thin disguise! No more with aukward fallacy complains, How every fervour from my bosom flies, And Reason in her lonesome palace reigns. Ere the chill winter of our days arrive, No more she paints the breast from passion free; I feel, I feel one loitering wish survive- The star of Venus ushers in the day, The first, the loveliest of the train that shine! The star of Venus lends her brightest ray, When other stars their friendly beams resign. Still in my breast one soft desire remains, Pure as that star, from guilt, from interest free, Has gentle Delia tripp'd across the plains, And need I, Florio, name that wish to thee? While, cloy'd to find the scenes of life the same, I tune with careless hand my languid lays; Some secret impulse wakes my former flame, And fires my strain with hope of brighter days. I slept not long beneath yon rural bowers; And lo! my crook with flowers adorn'd I sce: Has gentle Delia bound my crook with flowers, And need I, Florio,- name my hopes to thee? ELEGY XIII. TO A FRIEND, 4 ON SOME SLIGHT OCCASION ESTRANGED FROM HIM. HEALTH to my friend, and many a cheerful day Lost to our wonted friendship, lost to joy! Ere wintry doubt its tender warmth destroy. Life is that stranger land, that alien clime: Forbid by Fate to change one transient glance! ELEGY XIV. Declining an invitation to visit foreign countries, he takes occasion to intimate the advantages of his own. TO LORD TEMPLE. WHILE others, lost to friendship, lost to love, Waste their best minutes on a foreign strand, Be mine, with British nymph or swain to rove, And court the genius of my native land. Deluded youth! that quits these verdant plains, To catch the follies of an alien soil! To win the vice his genuine soul disdains, Return exultant, and import the spoil! In vain he boasts of his detested prize; No more it blooms, to British climes convey'd, Cramp'd by the impulse of ungenial skies, See its fresh vigour in a moment fade! An aukward stranger, if we waft it o'er; I covet not the pride of foreign looms; In search of foreign modes I scorn to rove; Or form these limbs with pliant ease to play; 'Tis long since Freedom fled th' Hesperian clime; And soft Campania's olive charins no more. Let the proud Soldan wound th' Arcadian groves, She seeks her Thomson on the British plain. Tell not of realms by ruthless War dismay'd; If Austria bleed beneath her boasted steel. Beneath her palm Idume vents her moan; No turban'd host the voice of Truth reproves; 'Tis the rich beauties of Britannia's mind. While Grenville's breast 2 could Virtue's stores afford, What envy'd flota bore so fair a freight? 1 The cinnamon. 2 Written a few years after the time of captain Grenville's death, which happened in 1747. The carldom of Temple was not created till 1749. VOL. XIIL ELEGY XV. IN MEMORY OF A PRIVATE FAMILY IN FROM a lone tower with reverend ivy crown'd, One pious youth his whole affection crown'd: But whilst gay transport in his face appears, If Heaven had meant I should my life extend, From yonder dome the mournful bier was borne. 'Twas on those downs, by Roman hosts annoy'd Fought our bold fathers; rustic, unrefin'd' Freedom's plain sons, in martial cares employ'd! They ting'd their bodies, but unmask'd their mind. 'Twas there, in happier times, this virtuous race, To swell with empty sounds a spotless name; And avarice to city-breasts descend. |