There first the youth of heav'nly birth I view'd,
For whom our monthly victims are renew’d.
He heard my vows, and graciously decreed

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My grounds to be restor'd, my former flocks to feed. MEL. O fortunate old man! whofe farm remains

For you fufficient, and requites your pains :

65 }

Though here the marshy grounds approach your fields,
And there the foil a ftony harvest yields,

Your teeming ewes shall no strange meadows try,
Nor fear a rott from tainted company.

Behold yon bordering fence of fallow trees

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Is fraught with flowers, the flowers are fraught with

bees;

The bufy bees with a foft murmuring strain
Invite to gentle fleep the labouring fwain.

While from the neighbouring rock, with rural fongs75
The pruner's voice the pleasing dream prolongs;
Stock-doves and turtles tell their amorous pain,
And, from the lofty elms, of love complain.

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TIT. Th' inhabitants of feas and skies fhall change, And fish on fhore, and ftags in air fhall range, The banish'd Parthian dwell on Arar's brink, And the blue German shall the Tigris drink : Ere I, forfaking gratitude and truth,

Forget the figure of that godlike youth.

MEL. But we must beg our bread in clime s unknown, Beneath the fcorching or the freezing zone.

And fome to far Oaxis fhall be fold;

Or try the Libyan heat, or Scythian cold.

The

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The rest among the Britons be confin'd ; A race of men from all the world disjoin'd. O muft the wretched exiles ever mourn, Nor after length of rolling years return ? Are we condemn'd by fate's unjust decree, No more our houses and our homes to see ? Or fhall we mount again the rural throne, And rule the country kingdoms, once our own! Did we for these barbarians plant and fow, On these, on these, our happy fields bestow? Good heaven, what dire effects from civil difcord flow! Now let me graff my pears, and prune the vine; 100 The fruit is theirs, the labour only mine. Farewel my paftures, my paternal stock ; My fruitful fields, and my more fruitful flock ! No more, my goats, fhall I behold you climb The fteepy cliffs, or crop the flowery thyme! No more extended in the grot below, Shall fee you browsing on the mountain's brow The prickly shrubs; and after on the bare, Lean down the deep abyss, and hang in air.. No more my sheep shall fip the morning dew; No more my fong shall please the rural crew : Adieu, my tuneful pipe! and all the world adieu! TIT. This night, at least, with me forget your care; Chefnuts and curds and cream fhall be your fare : The carpet-ground fhall be with leaves o'erspread;115 And boughs shall weave a covering for your head.. For fee yon funny hill the shade extends :

And curling fmoke from

cottages afcends..

Τ

105

THE

SECOND PASTORAL.

O R,

ALEXIS.

THE ARGUMENT,

The commentators can by no means agree on the perfon of Alexis, but are all of opinion that fome beautiful youth is meant by him, to whom Virgil here makes love in Corydon's language and fimplicity. His way of courtship is wholly paftoral: he complains of the boy's coynefs; recommends himself for his beauty and skill in piping; invites the youth into the country, where he promises him the diverfions of the place, with a fuitable prefent of nuts and apples but when he finds nothing will prevail, he refolves to quit his troublefome amour, and betake himself again to his former business.

YOUNG Corydon, th' unhappy fhepherd fwain,

The fair Alexis lov'd, but lov'd in vain :

And underneath the beechen fhade, alone,
Thus to the woods and mountains made his moan.

Is this, unkind Alexis, my reward,
And must I die unpitied, and unheard?
Now the green lizard in the grove is laid,
The fheep enjoy the coolness of the fhade;

And Theftylis wild thyme and garlick beats
For harvest hinds, o'erfpent with toil and heats :
While in the fcorching fun I trace in vain
Thy flying footsteps o'er the burning plain,
The creaking locufts with my voice conspire,
They fry with heat, and I with fierce defire.
How much more eafy was it to sustain
Proud Amarillis and her haughty reign,
The scorns of young Menalcas, once my care,
Though he was black, and thou art heavenly fair.
Truf not too much to that enchanting face
Beauty's a charm, but foon the charm will pafs :
White lilies lie neglected on the plain,
While dusky hyacinths for ufe remain.
My paffion is thy fcorn: nor wilt thou know
What wealth I have, what gifts I can bestow :
What stores my dairies and my folds contain ;
A thousand lambs that wander on the plain :
New milk that all the winter never fails,
And all the fummer overflows the pails :
Amphion fung not fweeter to his herd,

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25

When fummon'd ftones the Theban turrets rear'd. 30 Nor am I fo deform'd; for late I ftood

Upon the margin of the briny flood:

The winds were ftill, and if the glafs be true,
With Daphnis I may vie, though judged by you.

O leave

O leave the noify town, O come and fee
Our country cotts, and live content with me!
To wound the flying deer, and from their cotes
With me to drive a-field the browzing goats:
To pipe and fing, and in our country strain
To copy, or perhaps contend with Pan.
Pan taught to join with wax, unequal reeds,
Pan loves the shepherds, and their flocks he feeds:
Nor fcorn the pipe; Amyntas, to be taught,
With all his kiffes would my skill have bought.
Of seven smooth joints a mellow pipe I have,
Which with his dying breath Damætas gave :
And faid, This, Corydon, I leave to thee;.
For only thou deferv'ft it after me.

His eyes Amyntas durft not upward lift,

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40

4-5

For much he grudg'd the praise, but more the gift. 50
Befides two kids that in the valley stray'd,

I found by chance, and to my fold convey❜d.
They drain two bagging udders every day ;
And these shall be companions of thy play.
Both fleck'd with white, the true Arcadian strain, 55
Which Theftylis had often begg'd in vain :
And she shall have them, if again fhe fues,
Since you the giver and the gift refuse.
Come to my longing arms, my lovely care,
And take the presents which the nymphs prepare.
White lilies in full canisters they bring,

With all the glories of the purple spring.

The daughters of the flood have fearch'd the mead.
For violets pale, and cropp'd the poppies head;

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The