"There my vex'd thoughts a calm repose would find, "And reft, as if my Delia ftill were kind.

"No, let me live, her falfehood to upbraid:

"Some gods perhaps my just revenge will aid.
"Alas! what aid, fond fwain, wouldst thou receive?

"Could thy heart bear to fee its Delia grieve?
"Protect her, heaven! and let her never know
"The flightest part of hapless Damon's woe:
"I afk no vengeance from the powers above;
"All I implore is never more to love. -
"Let me this fondness from my bofom tear,
"Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair.
"Come, cool Indifference, and heal my breaft;
"Wearied, at length, I seek thy downy rest:
"No turbulence of paffion shall destroy

My future eafe with flattering hopes of joy. "Hear, mighty Pan, and, all ye fylvans, hear "What by your guardian deities I swear; "No more my eyes fhall view her fatal charms, "No more I'll court the traitorefs to my arms; "Not all her arts my steady soul shall move, "And she shall find that reason conquers love!" Scarce had he spoke, when through the lawn below Alone he faw the beauteous Delia go; At once transported, he forgot his vow, (Such perjuries the laughing gods allow!) Down the steep hills with ardent haste he flew; He found her kind, and foon believ'd her true.

POS

POSSESSION. ECLOGUE IV.

C

TO LORD COBHAM,

OBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,

Whofe guiding judgment gives me fkill to fing; Though far unequal to those polish'd strains,

With which thy Congreve charm'd the listening plains
Yet fhall its mufic please thy partial ear,

And footh thy breast with thoughts that once were dear;
Recal thofe years which time has thrown behind,
When fmiling Love with Honour fhar'd thy mind:
When all thy glorious days of profperous fight
Delighted lefs than one fuccessful night.

The sweet remembrance fhall thy youth restore,
Fancy again fhall run paft pleafures o'er ;
And, while in Stowe's enchanting walks you ftray,
This theme may help to cheat the fummer's day.
Beneath the covert of a myrtle wood,

To Venus rais'd, a ruftic altar ftood,
To Venus and to Hymen, there combin'd,
In friendly league, to favour human-kind.
With wanton Cupids, in that happy shade,
The gentle Virtues and mild Wisdom play'd.
Nor there, in fprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk'd fick Difguft, or late-repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Interest, join'd unwilling hands,
Eut Love confenting tied the blissful bands,

Thither,

Thither, with glad devotion, Damon came,

To thank the powers who blefs'd his faithful flame;
Two milk-white doves he on their altar laid,
And thus to both his grateful homage paid:

"Hail, bounteous god! before whofe hallow'd shrine 'My Delia vow'd to be for ever mine,

"While, glowing in her cheeks, with tender love, "Sweet virgin modesty reluctant strove!

"And hail to thee, fair queen of young defires!

Long shall my heart preferve thy pleafing fires, "Since Delia now can all its warmth return, "As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn. "O the dear bloom of laft propitious night! "O fhade more charming than the fairest light! "Then in my arms I clasp'd the melting maid, "Then all my pains one moment overpaid; "Then firft the fweet excefs of bliss I prov'd, "Which none can taste but who like me have lov'd. "Thou too, bright goddess, once, in Ida's grove, "Didft not difdain to meet a fhepherd's love; “ With him, while frisking lambs around you play'd, "Conceal'd you fported in the fecret shade : "Scarce could Anchifes' raptures equal mine, "And Delia's beauties only yield to thine. "What are ye now, my once most valued joys? "Infipid trifles all, and childish toys "Friendship itself ne'er knew a charm-like this, "Nor Colin's talk could please like Delia's kiss. "Ye Muses, skill'd in every winning art, "Teach me more deeply to engage her heart;

"Ye

"Ye nymphs, to her your freshest roses bring, "And crown her with the pride of all the spring = "On all her days let health and peace attend; "May the ne'er want, nor ever lofe, a friend! "May fome new pleasure every hour employ: "But let her Damon be her highest joy!

"With thee, my love, for ever will I stay, "All night carefs thee, and admire all day; "In the fame field our mingled flocks we 'll feed, "To the fame fpring our thirsty heifers lead, "Together will we share the harvest toils, "Together prefs the vine's autumnal spoils. "Delightful state, where Peace and Love combine, “To bid our tranquil days unclouded shine! "Here limpid fountains roll through flowery meads, "Here rising forests lift their verdant heads;

"Here let me wear my carelefs life away, "And in thy arms infenfibly decay.

"When late old age our heads fhall filver o'er, "And our flow pulfes dance with joy no more; "When Time no longer will thy beauties spare, "And only Damon's eye shall think thee fair; "Then may the gentle hand of welcome Death, "At one soft stroke, deprive us both of breath!

66

May we beneath one common ftone be laid, "And the fame cyprefs both our ashes shade!

Perhaps fome friendly Mufe, in tender verfe, "Shall deign our faithful paffion to rehearse,

"And future ages, with juft envy mov'd,
"Be told how Damon and his Delia lov'd.”

SOLILOQUY OF A BEAUTY

"T

IN THE COUNTRY.

Written at EATON SCHOOL.

WAS night; and Flavia to her room retir'd, With evening chat and sober reading tir'd; There, melancholy, penfive, and alone, She meditates on the forfaken town:

On her rais'd arm reclin'd her drooping head, She figh'd, and thus in plaintive accents faid : “Ah, what avails it to be young and fair; "To move with negligence, to drefs with care? "What worth have all the charms our pride can boaft, "If all in envious folitude are lost?

"Where none admire, 'tis ufelefs to excell;

"Where none are beaux, 'tis vain to be a belle:

Beauty, like wit, to judges fhould be shown;

"Both most are valued, where they beft are known. "With every grace of nature or of art,

"We cannot break one ftubborn country heart: "The brutes, infenfible, our power defy:

"To love, exceeds a 'fquire's capacity.

"The town, the court, is Beauty's proper fphere;' "That is our Heaven, and we are angels there : "In that gay circle thousand Cupids rove,

The court of Britain is the court of Love.

"How has my conscious heart with triumph glow'd, "How have my sparkling eyes their transport fhew'd,