DAPHNI S. Celestial Venus haunts Idalia's groves; If Wind for fhades delight the matchless maid, STREPHON. 65 All nature mourns, the fkies relent in fhow'rs, Hush'd are the birds, and clos'd the drooping flow'rs; If Delia fmile, the flow'rs begin to fpring, The skies to brighten, and the birds to fing. DAPHNIS. All nature laughs, the groves are fresh and fair, If Sylvia fmiles, new glories gild the fhore, STREPHON. In fpring the fields, in autumn hills I love, 71 75 Nor plains at morn, nor groves at noon delight. So DAPHNI S. Sylvia's like autumn ripe, yet mild as May, More bright than noon, yet fresh as early day; E'en fpring difpleafes, when the fhines not here; But blefs'd with her, 'tis fpring throughout the year. VARIATIONS. VER. 69. &c. These verfes were thus at first : IMITATIONS. VER. 69. All nature mourns,] Aret ager, vitio moriens fitit aëris herba, &c. STREPHON. Say, Daphnis, fay, in what glad foil appears, 85 A wond'rous Tree that facred Monarchs bears: Tell me but this, and I'll disclaim the prize, And give the conqueft to thy Sylvia's eyes. DAPHNI S. Nay, tell me firft, in what more happy fields The Thistle springs, to which the Lily yields : And then a noble prize I will refign; For Sylvia, charming Sylvia, fhall be thine. DAMON. Ceafe to contend, for Daphnis, I decree, The bowl to Strephon, and the lamb to thee. Bleft Swains, whofe Nymphs in ev'ry grace excel; 95 NOT B S. VER. 86. A wondrous Tree that facred Monarchs bears :] An allufion to the Royal Oak, in which Charles II. had been hid from the pursuit after the battle of Worcester. IMITATIONS. VER. 90. The Thistle Springs to which the Lily yields :] Alludes to the device of the Scots Monarchs, the Thiftle, worn by Queen Anne; and to the arms of France, the Fleur de lys. The two riddles are in imitation of thofe in Virg. Ecl. iii. Dic quibus in terris infcripti nomina Regum VARIATIONS. VER. 99. was originally, The turf with country dainties fhall be spread, A Shepherd's Boy (he feeks no better name) Led forth his flocks along the filver Thame, VARIATIONS.. VER. I, 2, 3, 4. were thus printed in the first edition :: Bewail'd his fate befide a filver spring; Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads VER. 3. Originally thus in the MS. There to the winds he plain'd his hapless love, NOTE S. VER. 3. The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide: fuitable to the heat of the feafon; the time noon, Accept, O GARTH, the Mufe's early lays, Ye fhady beeches, and ye cooling ftreams, Where ftray ye, Mufes, in what lawn or grove, 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 Spenser'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. VIR. 23. Where fray ye, Mufes, etc.] Quæ nemora, aut qui vos faltus habuere, puellæ Nam ne neque Parnaffi vobis juga, nam neque Pindi Virg, out of Theocr. As in the crystal fpring I view my face, VER. 27. VARIATIONS. Oft in the crystal spring I caft a view, But fince thofe graces meet my eyes no more, I fhun, &c. IMITATIONS. VER. 27. Virgil again from the Cyclops of Theocritus, nuper me in littore vidi, Cum placidum ventis ftaret mare; non ego Daphnim, VER. 40. bequeath'd in death, &c.] Virg. Ecl. ii. Eft mihi difparibus feptem compacta cicutis NOTE S. 30 35 45 VER. 39. Colin.] The name taken by Spenfer in his Eclogues, here his miftrefs is celebrated under that of Rofalinda. |