Then cry'd; May all thy charms, ungrateful maid,
Like these neglected rofes droop and fade;
May angry Heav'n deform each guilty grace,
That triumphs now in that deluding face;
Those alter'd looks may every fhepherd fly,
And ev❜n thy Daphnis hate thee worse than I.
Say, thou inconftant, what has Damon done,
To lose the heart his tedious pains had won?
Tell me what charms you in my rival find,
Against whose power no ties have strength to bind :
Has he, like me, with long obedience strove
Το conquer your disdain, and merit love?
Has he with transport every fimile ador'd,
And dy'd with grief at each ungentle word?
Ah, no! the conqueft was obtain❜d with ease:
He pleas'd you, by not ftudying to please:
His careless indolence your pride alarm'd;
And had he lov'd you more, he less had charm'd.
O pain to think, another shall poffefs
Those balmy lips which I was wont to press:
Another on her panting breast shall lie,
And catch sweet madness from her swimming eye! →
I faw their friendly flocks together feed,
I faw them hand in hand walk o'er the mead;
Would my clos'd eyes had funk in endless night,
Ere I was doom'd to bear that hateful fight!
Where'er they pass'd, be blasted every flow'r,
And hungry wolves their helpless flocks devour.-
Ah wretched fwain! could no examples move"
Thy heedless heart to fhun the
Haft thou not heard how poor * Menalcas dy'd
A victim to Parthenia's fatal pride?
Dear was the youth to all the tuneful plain,
Lov'd by the nymphs, by Phoebus lov'd in vain:
Around his tomb their tears the Muses paid,
And all things mourn'd but the relentless maid.
Would I could die like him, and be at peace,
These torments in the quiet grave would cease;
There my vex'd thoughts a calm repose would find,
And rest as if my Delia still were kind.
No, let me live her falfhood to upbraid;
Some god perhaps my juft revenge will aid.
Alas! what aid, fond fwain, would'st thou receive?
Could thy heart bear to see its Delia grieve?
Protect her, Heav'n, and let her never know
The slightest part of hapless Damon's woe:
I ask no vengeance from the pow'rs 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 fhall destroy
My future ease with flatt'ring hopes of joy.
Hear, mighty Pan, and all ye Sylvans hear,
What by your guardian deities I swear;
No more my eyes fhall view her fatal charms,
No more I'll court the trait'refs to my arms;
Not all her arts my steady foul fhall move,
And she shall find that Reafon 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 hafte he flew;
He found her kind, and soon believ'd her true.
OBHAM, to thee this rural lay I bring,
Whose guiding judgment gives me skill to fing;
Though far unequal to thofe polish'd strains,
With which thy Congreve charm'd the lift'ning plains,
Yet fhall its music please thy partial ear,
And footh thy breaft with thoughts that once were dear;
Recall those years which time has thrown behind,
When finiling Love with Honour shar'd thy mind
The sweet remembrance fhall thy youth restore,
Fancy again fhall run past pleasures 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 rustic 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 sprightly Pleasure's genial train,
Lurk'd fick Difguft, or late repenting Pain,
Nor Force, nor Int'reft, join'd unwilling hands,
But Love confenting ty'd the blissful bands.
Thither with glad devotion Damon came,
To thank the pow'rs who blefs'd his faithful flame;
Two milk-white doves he on their altars 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 fhall my heart preserve thy pleasing fires,
Since Delia now can all its warmth return,
As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn.
O the dear gloom of laft propitious night!
O fhade more charming than the fairest light!
Then in my arms I clafp'd the melting maid,
Then all my pains one moment overpaid;
Then first the sweet excefs of bliss I prov'd,
Which none can taste but who like me have lov'd.
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