Adieu my flocks, farewell ye fylvan crew,
Daphne farewell, and all the world adieu!

VER. 89, &c.] These four laft lines allude to the feveral Subjects of the four Paftorals, and to the feveral Scenes of them, particularized before in each.

MESSIAH.

I

ADVERTISEMENT.

N reading feveral paffages of the Prophet Isaiah which foretell the coming of Christ and the felicities attending it, I could not but obferve a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts, and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not feem furprizing, when we reflect, that the Eclogue was taken from a Sibylline prophecy on the fame fubject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but felected fuch ideas as beft agreed with the nature of paftoral poetry, and difpofed them in that manner which ferv'd most to beautify his piece. I have endeavour'd the fame in this imitation of him, tho' without admitting any thing of my own; fince it was written with this particular view, that the reader by comparing the feveral thoughts, might fee how far the images and defcriptions of the Prophet are fuperior to thofe of the Poet. But as fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the paffages of Ifaiah, and thofe of Virgil, under the fame difadvantage of a literal translation.

E Nymphs of Solyma! begin the fong:

YE

To heav'nly themes fublimer strains belong.
The moffy fountains, and the fylvan shades,
The dreams of Pindus and th' Aonian maids,
Delight no more- O thou my voice inspire
Who touch'd Ifaiah's hallow'd lips with fire!
Rapt into future times, the Bard begun,
A Virgin shall conceive, a Virgin bear a Son!

From

VER. 8. AVirgin fhall conceive All crimes shall ceafe, &c.]

VIRG. E. 4. . 6. Jam redit & Virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna,

Jam nova progenies cælo demittitur alto

Te duce, fi qua manent fceleris veftigia noftri.

From Jeffe's root behold a branch arise,
Whofe facred flow'r with fragrance fills the skies:
Th' Ethereal spirit o'er its leaves shall move,
And on its top defcends the myftic Dove.

2

Ye heav'ns! from high the dewy nectar pour,
And in foft filence fhed the kindly show'r!

The 3 fick and weak the healing plant fhall aid,
From ftorms a fhelter, and from heat a shade.
All crimes fhall ceafe, and ancient fraud fhall fail:
Returning Juftice lift aloft her scale;

4

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,
And white-rob'd Innocence from heav'n defcend.

Irrita perpetua folvent formidine terras-
Pacatumque reget patriis virtutibus orbem.

10

15

20

Now the Virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new Progeny is fent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever reliques of our crimes remain, fhall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He hall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his Father.

ISAIAH, Ch. 7. *. 14. Behold a Virgin fhall conceive, and bear a Son-Ch. 9.6, 7. Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the Prince of Peace: of the increafe of his government, and of his peace, there fhall be no end: Upon the throne of David, and upon bis kingdom, to order and to ftablish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever and ever.

Ifaiah ch. 11. -9 Ch. 25. . 4.

I.

2 Ch. 45. . 8. + Ch. 9. *. 7.

Swift