'Tis done, and nature's various charms decay, For her the flocks refuse their verdant food, 30 335 In notes more sad than when they sing their own; 40 Now Daphne's dead, and pleasure is no more! Her name with pleasure once she taught the shore, No grateful dews descend from evening skies, 45 50 No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings, Shall, listening in mid air, suspend their wings; 55 Or, hush'd with wonder, hearken from the sprays: No more the streams their murmurs shall forbear, 60 Her fate is whisper'd by the gentle breeze, 56 Originally thus in the MS., ""Tis done, and nature's changed since you are gone: 65 The winds and trees and floods her death deplore, Daphne, our grief! our glory now no more! But see! where Daphne wondering mounts on high 58 Above the clouds, above the starry sky! Eternal beauties grace the shining scene, LYCIDAS. How all things listen, while thy Muse complains! Such silence waits on Philomela's strains. 70 71 In some still evening, when the whispering breeze 80 While plants their shade, or flowers their odours give, THYRSIS. But see, Orion sheds unwholesome dews; Arise, the pines a noxious shade diffuse ;61 Adieu, ye vales, ye mountains, streams, and groves; 58 59 "Miratur limen Olympi, Sub pedibusque videt nubes et sidera Daphnis.”—Virg. Şæpe tener nostris ab ovilibus imbuet agnus."-Virg. 60 Originally thus in the MS., 61 "While vapours rise, and driving snows descend, "Solet esse gravis cantantibus umbra, Juniperi gravis umbra."-Virg. 62 "Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.” Vid. etiam Sannazarii Eccl. et Spenser's Calendar. 63 These four last lines allude to the several subjects of the four Pastorals, and to the several scenes of them particularized before in each. "Non injussa cano: Te nostræ, Vare, myricæ, Te Nemus omne canet; nec Phoebo gratior ulla est, ["My pastoral Muse her humble tribute brings; And all the sylvan reign shall sing of thee: For he who sings thy praise secures his own."-DRYDEN.] ["This poem was written at two different times: the first part of it, which relates to the country, in the year 1704, at the same time with the Pastorals; the latter part was not added till the year 1713, in which it was published."-Pope. A difference in style is perceptible, the second portion being more lofty and sustained. Yet the early part contains some of his best descriptive lines, as the picture of the dying pheasant, and that of the fowler in winter, "Where doves in flocks the leafless trees o'ershade, Woodcocks still abound near the site of Pope's father's house, at Binfield. The description of "the patient fisher on the banks of the Thames is no less true to nature. At this period of his life, the poet's solitary rambles in the Forest had imbued him with a love of nature, and habits of observation, which he soon ceased to cultivate, at least in the same direction, though even his moral and satirical poems derived benefit from his youthful study of the picturesque. In his treatment of his subject, Pope evidently followed Denham's "Cooper's Hill," and Waller's "Park," no doubt admiring the latter for superior correctness. Cooper's Hill was published as early as 1633, but it was subsequently much improved by the author. It is scarcely necessary to point out Pope's animated apostrophe to Britain, and his prediction as to the future greatness of our country, in which, as of old, he verified the maxim, that poet and prophet are the same. His eulogy on the peace of Utrecht first disclosed his political sentiments; he was the friend of Oxford and Bolingbroke, not of Somers, Marlborough, and Addison. The latter, it is said, was hurt at the conclusion of the poem, and it was impossible that he should not regret the loss of one who might have proved so brilliant an ally to his party.] THY forest, Windsor! and thy green retreats, At once the Monarch's and the Muse's seats, Invite my lays. Be present, sylvan maids!1 Unlock your springs, and open all your shades. GRANVILLE commands; your aid, O Muses, bring! What Muse for GRANVILLE can refuse to sing ?2 The groves of Eden, vanish'd now so long, Live in description, and look green in song: 1 Originally thus, "Chaste Goddess of the woods, Nymphs of the vales, and Naïads of the floods, Lead me through arching bowers, and glimmering glades 2" Neget quis carmina Gallo?"-Virg. 5 |