TH LYCID AS.. HYRSIS, the mufic of that murm'ring fpring Nor rivers winding thro' the vales below, NOTES. Mvs. Tempeft.) This Lady was of an ancient family in Yorkfhire, and particularly admired by the Author's friend Mr. Walsh, who, having celebrated her in a Paftoral Elegy, defited his friend to do the fame, as appears from one of his Letters, dated Sept. 9, 1706. Your laft Eclogue being on the same subject with mine ,,on Mrs. Tempeft's death, I fhould take it very kindly in you to ,,give it a little turn, as if it were to the memory of the fame lady." Her death having happened on the night of the great ftorm in 1703, gave a propriety to this eclogue, which in its general turn alludes to it. The scene of the Paftoral lies in a grove, the time ad midnight. Now fleeping flocks on their foft fleeces lie, THYRS I S. Behold the groves that fhine with filver froft, LYCID A S. So may kind rains their vital moisture yield, And fwell the future harveft of the field. 10 Begin; this charge the dying Daphne gave,wolled, nt THYRSI S. Ye gentle Mufes, leave your cryftal fpring,.. Let Nymphs and Sylvans cyprefs garlands bring; Ye weeping Loves, the ftream with myrtles, hide, And break your bows as when Adonis dy'd; And with your golden darts, now useless grown, 25 IMITATIONS. VER. 13. Thames heard, etc,) Audiit Eurotas, juffitque edifcere laures. VER. 23, 24, 25. Inducite fontibus umbras - Virg. Et tumulum facite, et tumulo fuperaddite carmen, Infcribe a verfe on this relenting stone: For her the flocks refufe their verdant food, 30 35 In notes more fad than when they fing their own; Her name with pleasure once she taught the fhore, 41 No grateful dews defcend from ev'ning fkies, 45 Nor morning odours from the flow'rs arise; VARIATIONS. VER. 29. Originally thus in the MS. 'Tis done, and nature's changed fince you are gone; 3 So 55 No more the mounting larks, while Daphne fings, Shall lift'ning in mid air fufpend their wings; No more the birds shall imitate her lays, Or hufh'd with wonder, hearken from the fprays: No more the ftreams their murmurs fhall forbear, A fweeter mufic than their own to hear, But tell the reeds, and tell the vocal. fhore, Fair Daphne's dead, and mufic is no more! Her fate is whifper'd by the gentle breeze, And told in fighs to all the trembling trees; The trembling trees, in ev'ry plain and wood, Her fate remurmur to the filver flood; The filver flood, fo lately calm, appears 60 65 Swell'd with new paffion, and o'erflows with tears; The winds and trees and floods her death deplore, Daphne, our grief! our glory now no more! 70 'But fee! where Daphne wond'ring mounts on high Above the clouds, above rhe starry sky! Eternal beauties grace the fhining scene, Fields ever fresh, and groves for ever green! There while you reft in Amaranthine bow'rs, Or from thofe meads felcct unfading flow'rs, Behold us kindly, who your name implore, Daphne, our Goddess, and our grief no more! LYCIDA S. 75 How all things liften, while thy Mufe complains! Such filence waits on Philomela's ftrains, In fome ftill ev'ning, when the whifp'ring breeze Pants on the leaves, and dies upon the trees. 80 While plants their fhade, or flow'rs their odours give, THYRS I S. 85 But fee, Orion fheds unwholesome dews; Arife, the pines a noxious fhade diffuse; Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay, Time conquers all, and we must Time obey. Adieu, ye vales, ye mountains, ftreams and groves, Adieu, ye fhepherd's rural lays and loves; Adieu, my flocks; farewell, ye fylvan crew; Daphne, farewell; and all the world adieu! VARIATIONS. VER. 83. Originally thus in the MS. While vapours rife, and driving fitows defcend, VER. 89, etc.) NOTES. 90 Thefe four left lines allude tho the several fubie&ts of the four Paftorals, and to the feveral fcenes of them, particularized before in each. Omnia vincit amor, & nos cedamus amori. Vid. etiam Sannazarii Ecl. & Spenser's Calendar. |