THE PROGRESS OF LOVE. IN FOUR ECLOGUE S. I. UNCERTAINTY. To Mr. POPE. II. HOPE. To the Hon. GEORGE DODDINGTON. III. JEALOUSY. TO EDWARD WALPOLE, Efq; IV. POSSESSION. To the Right Hon. the Lord Vifcount СОВНАМ. UNCERTAINTY. ECLOGUE I. To Mr. POPE. POPE, to whofe reed beneath the beachen fhade, The Nymphs of Thames a pleas'd attention paid ; While yet thy Muse, content with humbler praise, Warbled in Windfor's grove her fylvan lays; Though now, fublimely borne on Homer's wing, Of glorious wars and godlike chiefs she fing : Wilt thou with me revifit once again The crystal fountain, and the flowery plain? Wilt thou, indulgent, hear my verse relate The various changes of a lover's ftate; And, while each turn of paffion I purfue, Afk thy own heart if what I tell be true? To the green margin of a lonely wood, No fenfe of intereft could their mafter move, But, though his voice was mute, his looks complain'd; 66 Though wild Ambition, and destructive Rage, "No factions here can form, no wars can wage: "Though Envy frowns not on your humble fhades, "Nor Calumny your innocence invades : "Yet cruel Love, that troubler of the breaft, "Too often violates your boafted rest; "With inbred ftorms difturbs your calm retreat, "And taints with bitterness each rural fweet. "Ah luckless day! when.first with fond surprize "On Delia's face I fix'd my eager eyes! "Then in wild tumults all my foul was toft, "Then reafon, liberty, at once were loft : "And « And every wish, and thought, and care, was gone, "But what my heart employ'd on her alone. "Then too fhe fmil'd: can fimiles our peace deftroy, "Those lovely children of Content and Joy? "How can foft pleasure and tormenting woe "From the fame fpring at the fame moment flow? "Unhappy boy! thefe vain enquiries ceafe, "Thought could not guard, nor will restore. thy peace: "Indulge the frenzy that thou must endure, chain. "And footh the pain thou know'st not how to cure, "Come, flattering Memory! and tell my heart "How kind fhe was, and with what pleasing art "She ftrove its fondeft wishes to obtain, "Confirm her power, and fafter bind my "If on the green we danc'd, a mirthful band; "To me alone she gave her willing hand: "Her partial tafte, if e'er I touch'd the lyre, "Still in my fong found fomething to admire. 66 By none but her my crook with flowers was crown'd, By none but her my brows with ivy bound: "The world that Damon was her choice believ'd, "Ah, how have I deferv'd, inhuman maid, "But dreams of joy, that charm'd me and deceiv'd? "'Twas only modesty that seem'd disdain, HOPE. ECLOGUE II. To Mr. DODDINGTON. [Afterwards LORD MELCOMBE REGIS.] HEAR, Doddington, the notes that shepherds fing, Like thofe that warbling hail the genial spring. Nor Pan, nor Phoebus, tunes our artless reeds: From From Love, Theocritus, on Enna's plains, Damon no longer fought the filent shade, "Bleft be the hour, he said, that happy hour, "When first I own'd my Delia's gentle power; "Then gloomy difcontent and pining care "Forfook my breast, and left soft wishes there "Soft wishes there they left, and gay defires, "Delightful languors, and transporting fires. "Where yonder limes combine to form a shade, "Thefe eyes: first gaz'd upon the charming maid "There the appear'd, on that aufpicious day, "When swains their sportives rites to Bacchus pay: "She led the dance-heavens with what grace the "mov'd! "Who could have seen her then, and not have lov'd? "I ftrove not to refift so sweet a flame, "But gloried in a happy captive's name ; "Nor would I now, could Love permit, be free, "But leave to brutes their favage liberty. * Mr. Doddington had written fome very pretty loveverfes, which have never been published. LYTTELT. |