Ev'n noiv, when filent scorn is all thy gain,
A thousand court you, tho’ they court in vain,
A thousand sylvans, demigods, and gods, 75
That haunt our inountains and our Alban woods.
But if you'll prosper, mark what I advise,
Whom age, and long experience render wise,

,
And one whose tender care is far above
All that these lovers ever felt of love,

80 (Far more than e'er can by yourself be guest), Fix on Vertumnus, and reject the rest. For his firm faith I dare engage my own; Scarce to himself, himself is better known. To distant lands Vertumnus never roves; Like you, contented with his native groves; Nor at first sight, like most, adnires the fair; For you he lives; and you

alone shall share · His last affection, as his early care.

85

}

Sollicitata procis: nec quæ Lapitheia movit
Prælia, nec conjux timidis audacis Ulyssei.
Nunc quoque, cum fugias averlerisque petentes,
Mille proci cupiunt; et femideique deique, 75
Et quæcunque tenent Altanos nuinina montes.
Sed tu, fi fapies, fi te bene jungere, anumque
Hanc audire voles, (quæ te plus omnibus illis, 80
Plus quam credis, amo), vulgares rejice tædas:
Vertumnumque tori focium tibi felige: pro quo .
Me quoque pignus habe. neque enim fibi notior

ille eit,
Quam'mili. nec toto pallim vagus errat in orbe.
Hæc loca sola colit. nec, uti pars magna procorum,
Quam modo vídit, amat. tu primus et ultimus illi
Ardor crit; folique fuos tibi devovet annos.

Besides,

Besides, he's lovely far above the rest,

90
With youth immortal, and with beauty bleft.
Add, that he varies ev'ry shape with ease,
And tries all forms that may Pomona please.
But what should most excite a mutual flame,
Your rural cares and pleasures are the same. 95
To him

your orchard's early fruits are due,
(A pleasing offring when 'tis made by you).
He values these; but yet (alas !) complains,
That still the best and dearest gift remains.
Not the fair fruit that on yon branches glows 100
With that ripe red th' autumnal fun bestows;
Nor tasteful herbs that in these gardens rise,
Which the kind foil with milky fap supplies;
You, only you, can move the God's desire :
Oh crown so constant and so

105
Let soft compassion touch your gentle mind;
Think, 'tis VERTumnus begs you to be kind!
So may no frost, when early buds appear,
Destroy the promise of the youthful year;

pure a fire !

Adde, quod eft juvenis; quod naturale decoris go
Munus habet; formasque apte fingetur in omnes:
Et, quod erit juflus (jubeas licet omnia) fiet.
Quid, quod amatis idem ? quod, quæ tibi poma co-

luntur,
Primus habet; lætaque tenet tua munera dextra?
Sed neque jam fætus defiderat arbore demtos.
Nec, quas hortus alit, cum succis mitibus herbas;
Nec quidquam, nisi te, miserere ardentis: et ipsum,
Qui petit, ore meo præfentem crede precari.----
Sic tibi nec vernum nafcentia frigus adurat
Poma; nec excutiant rapidi florentia venti,

IIO

Nor wiads, when first your florid orchard blows, Shake the light blossoms from their blasted boughs!

This when the various God had urg'd in vain, Hc straight aflum'd his native form again; Such, and so bright an aspect now he bears, As when thro' clouds th' emerging fun appears, And thence exerting his refulgent ray, 116 Dispels the darkness, and reveals the day. Force he prepar'd, but check'd the raih design; For when, appearing in a form divine, The Nymph surveys him, and beholds the

grace Of charming features, and a youthful face, In her soft breast confenting passions move, · And the warm maid confess'd a mutual love.

121

Hæc ubi nequicquam formas Deus aptus in

omnes, Edidit; in juvenem rediit : et anilia demit Instrumenta fibi: talisque apparuit illi, Qualis ubi oppofitas nitidiffima folis imago Evicit nubes, nullaque obftante reluxit. Vimque parat : fed vi non est opus; inque figura : Capta Lei Nympha est, et mutua vulnera sentit.

115

IMITATIONS

1

IMITATIONS of ENGLISH POETS.

Done by the Author in his Youth.

W

10

I.

CHAUCER.
OMEN ben full of ragerie,

Yet swinken nat sans secrefie.
Thilke moral shall ye understond,
From schoole-boy's tale of fayre Irelond:
Which to these fennes hath him betake, 5
To filch the gray ducke fro the lake.
Right then, there passen by the way
His aunt, and eke her daughters tway.
Ducke in his trowses hath he hent,
Not to be spied of ladies gent.
“ But ho! our nephew," (crieth one),
“ Ho!" quoth another, “ Cozen John;"
And stoppen, and lough, and callen out,
This filly clerk full low doth lout :
They aken that, and talken this,

35
“ Lo here is coz, and here is miss."
But, as he glozeth with speeches foote,
The ducke fore tickleth his erse roote:
Fore-piece and buttons all-to-brest,
Forth thrust a white neck, and red creft. 20
Te-be, cry'd ladies; clerke nought spake :
Miss star'd; and gray ducke crieth Quaake.
"O moder, moder," (quoth the daughter),
“ Be thilke fame thing maids longer a’ter?

“ Bette

a

“ Bette is to pyne on coals and chalke, 25

Than trust on mon, whose yerde can talke,"

II.

SPENCER.

'The A L L E Y.

I

1. N ev'ry town, where Thamis rolls his tyde,

A narrow pass there is, with houses low; Where ever and anon the stream is ey’d, And many a boat soft sliding to and fro. There oft are heard the notes of infant-woe, 5 The short thick fob, loud scream, and shriller

squall : How can ye, mothers, vex your children so ? Some play, fome eat, fome cack against the wall, And as they crouchen low, for bread and butter call,

11. And on the broken pavement, here and there, 10 Doth many a stinking sprat and herring lie; A brandy and tobacco shop is near, And hens, and dogs, and hogs are feeding by; And here a sailor's jacket hangs to dry. At ev'ry door are sun-burnt matrons seen, 15 Mending old nets to catch the scaly fry; Now singing shrill, and scolding eft between; Scolds answer foul-mouth'd scolds; bad neighbourhood I ween.

a