Amid her kindred ftars familiar roam,

Curvey the region, and confefs her home!
Such was the life great Scipio once admir'd,
Thus Atticus, and TRUMBAL thus retir'd.

255

Ye facred Nine! that all my foul poffefs, Whofe raptures fire me, and whofe vifions blefs, Bear me, oh bear me to fequefter'd scenes, 261 The bow'ry mazes, and furrounding greens: To Thames's banks which fragrant breezes fill, Or where ye Mufes fport on COOPER'S HILL. (On COOPER'S HILL eternal wreathes fhall grow While lafts the mountain, or while Thames fhall flow)

I feem through confecrated walks to rove,

I hear soft mufic die along the grove:

266

Led by the found, I roam from shade to fhade,

By god-like Poets venerable made;

VARIATIONS.

VER. 267. It flood thus in the MS.

Methinks around your holy fcenes I rove,
And hear your mufic echoing through the grove
With transport vifit each inspiring fhade,
By God-like Poets venerable made.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 261. "O qui me gelidis," etc. Virg

270

Here

A

Here his first lays majestic DENHAM fung; There the last numbers flow'd from COWLEY'S

tongue.

O early loft! what tears the river thed,
When the fad pomp along his banks was led?
His drooping fwans on every note expire, 275
And on his willows hung each Muse's lyre.

Since fate relentless stop'd their heav'nly voice, No more the forefts ring, or groves rejoice; Who now shall charm the fhades, where CowLEY ftrung

His living harp, and lofty DENHAM fung? 280
But hark! the groves rejoice, the forest rings!
Are these reviv'd? or is it GRANVILLE fings!
"Tis yours, my Lord, to bless our foft retreats,
And call the Mufes to their ancient seats;
To paint anew the flow'ry sylvan scenes,
To crown the forefts with immortal greens,
Make Windfor-hills in lofty numbers rise,
And lift her turrets nearer to the fkies;

285

VER. 275.

VARIATIONS.

To

What fighs, what murmurs, fill'd the vocal fhore!
His tuneful fwans were heard to fing no more.

NOTES.

P.

VER. 272. There the last numbers flow'd from Cowley's tongue.] Mr. Cowley died at Chertfey on the borders of the Foreft, and was from thence convey'd to Westminster, P,

To fing those honours you deferve to wear,
And add new luftre to her filver ftar.

290

Here noble SURREY felt the facred rage,
SURREY, the GRANVILLE of a former age:
Matchlefs his pen, victorious was his lance,
Bold in the lifts, and graceful in the dance:
In the fame shades the Cupids tun'd his lyre, 295
To the fame notes, of love, and foft defire:

Fair Geraldine, bright object of his vow,

Then fill'd the groves, as heav'nly Mira now.

O would'ft thou fing what heroes Windfor bore, What kings first breath'd upon her winding shore, Or raise old warriours, whofe ador'd remains 301 In weeping vaults her hallow'd earth contains! With Edward's acts adorn the fhining page, Stretch his long triumphs down through ev'ry age, Draw monarchs chain'd,and Creffi's glorious field, The lilies blazing on the regal fhield:

VARIATIONS.

306 Then,

VER. 290. Her filver ftar.] All the lines that follow were not added to the poem till the year 1710. What immediately followed this, and made the conclufion, were these,

My humble Mufe in unambitious strains
Paints the green forefts and the flow'ry plains;
Where I obfcurely pafs my careless days,
Pleas'd in the filent fhade with empty praise,
Enough for me that to the lift'ning fwains

Firft in these fields I fung the fylvan ftrains. P.

NOTES.

VER. 291. Here noble Surrey] Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, one of the first refiners of the English poetry; who flourifh'd in the time of Henry VIII. P

VER. 393. Edward's acts.] Edward III. born here.

Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall,
And leave inanimate the naked wall,
Still in thy song should vanquish'd France appear,
And bleed for ever under Britain's spear.

310

Let fofter strains ill-fated Henry mourn, And palms eternal flourish round his urn. Here o'er the Martyr-King the marble weeps, And, fast befide him, once-fear'd Edward fleeps: Whom not th' extended Albion could contain, From old Belerium to the northern main, 316 The grave unites; where e'en the Great find reft, And blended lie th' oppreffor and th' oppreft!

Make facred Charles's tomb for ever known (Obfcure the place, and uninfcrib'd the ftone) Oh fact accurft! what tears has Albion fhed, 321 Heav'ns, what new wounds! and how her old have bled!

VARIATIONS.

She

VER. 307. Originally thus in the MS.

When Brafs decays, when Trophies lie o'er-thrown,
And mould'ring into duft drops the proud flone.

VER. 321. Originally thus in the MS.

Oh fact accurft! oh facrilegious brood,

Sworn to Rebellion, principled in blood!

Since that dire morn what tears has Albion fhed,
Gods! what new wounds, etc.

NOTES.

VER. 311. Henry mourn] Henry VI. P.

VER. 314. once-fear'd Edward fleeps :] Edward IV. P.

325

She faw her fons with purple death expire,
Her facred domes involv'd in rolling fire,
A dreadful feries of inteftine wars,
Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars.
At length great ANNA faid-"Let difcord ceafe!"
She said, the world obey'd, and all was Peace!

In that bleft moment from his oozy bed 329
Old father Thames advanc'd his rev'rend head;
His treffes drop'd with dews, and o'er the ftream
His shining horns diffus'd a golden gleam;
Grav'd on his urn appear'd the moon, that guides
His fwelling waters, and alternate tides;
The figur'd ftreams in waves of filver roll'd, 335
And on her banks Augusta rose in gold.

Around

VARIATIONS.

VER. 327. Thus in the MS.

Till Anna rofe and bade the Furies ceafe;
Let there be peace-fhe faid, and all was Peace.

Between Verse 330 and 331, originally stood these lines,

From shore to fhore exulting shouts he heard,
O'er all his banks a lambent light appear'd,
With sparkling flames heav'n's glowing concave fhone,
Fictitious ftars, and glories not her own.
He faw, and gently rofe above the ftream;
His fhining horns diffufe a golden gleam :
With pearl and gold his tow'ry front was dreft,
The tributes of the diftant Eaft and Weft. P.