T To the Memory of MRS. TEMPEST. LYCIDAS. HYRSIS, the mufic of that murmuring spring Is not fo mournful as the strains you fing. THYRSIS. Behold the groves that shine with filver frost, LYCIDAS. So may kind rains their vital moisture yield, And fwell the future harvest of the field. Begin; this charge the dying Daphne gave, THYRSIS. Ye gentle Mufes, leave your crystal spring, 20 And with your golden darts, now useless grown, 25 Inscribe a verfe on this relenting stone: "Let nature change, let heaven and earth deplore, "Fair Daphne's dead, and Love is now no more!" 'Tis done, and nature's various charms decay: See gloomy clouds obfcure the chearful day!! Now hung with pearls the dropping trees appear, Their faded honours fcatter'd on her bier. See where, on earth, the flowery glories lie, With her they flourish'd, and with her they die. Ah, what avail the beauties nature wore? Fair Daphne's dead, and Beauty is no more! For her the flocks refufe their verdant food, 30 35 The thirsty heifers than the gliding flood, In notes more fad than when they fing their own; 40 In hollow caves fweet Echo filent lies, Silent, or only to her name replies; VARIATION. Ver. 29. Originally thus in the MS. Her 'Tis done, and nature's chang'd fince you are gone; Behold the clouds have "put their mourning on. Her name with pleasure once she taught the shore, No grateful dews descend from evening skies, No more the mounting larks, while Daphne fings, 45 50 No more the birds shall imitate her lays, 55 Or, hush'd with wonder, hearken from the sprays: No more the streams their murmurs fhall forbear, But tell the reeds, and tell the vocal fhore, 60 The filver flood, fo lately calm, appears Swell'd with new paffion, and o'erflows with tears; 65 But fee! where Daphne wondering mounts on high Above the clouds, above the ftarry sky! Eternal beauties grace the shining scene, Fields ever fresh, and groves for ever green! 70 There re There while you reft in Amaranthine bowers, LYCIDAS. 75 How all things liften, while thy Mufe complains! THYRSIS. But fee, Orion fheds unwholesome dews; VARIATION. Ver. 83. Originally thus in the MS. 85 ၄၁ MES While vapours rife, and driving fnows defcend, NOTE. Ver. 89, &c.] These four laft lines allude to the feveral fubjects of the four Paftorals, and to the several fcenes of them particularized before in each. |