O early loft! what tears the river shed, 271 Since fate relentless stop'd their heav'nly voice, His living harp, and lofty DENHAM fung? To paint anew the flow'ry fylvan fcenes, greens, Make Windfor-hills in lofty numbers rife, 285 And lift her turrets nearer to the skies; To fing thofe honours you deferve to wear, VER. 273. VARIATIONS. What fighs, what murmurs fill'd the vocal fhore! His tuneful fwans were heard to fing no more. P. VER. 288. her filver ftar.] All the lines that follow were not added to the poem till the year 1710. What immediately fol lowed this, and made the conclufion, were thefe, My humble Mufe in unambitious ftrains 295 Here noble SURREY felt the facred rage, SURREY, the GRANVILLE of a former age: 290 Matchless 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, To the fame notes, of love, and soft defire : Fair Geraldine, bright object of his vow, Then fill'd the groves, as heav'nly Mira now. Oh would'st thou fing what heroes Windfor bore, What kings first breath'd upon her winding shore, Or raise old warriours, whofe ador'd remains In weeping vaults her hallow'd earth contains! With Edward's acts adorn the shining page, 301 Stretch his long triumphs down thro' ev'ry age, Draw monarchs chain'd, and Creffi's glorious field, The lilies blazing on the regal shield: VARIATIONS. Where I obfcurely pass my careless days, REMARKS. P. VER. 289. Here noble Surrey] Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, one of the first refiners of the English poetry; who flourish'd in the time of Henry VIII. P. VER. 301. Edward's acts] Edward III. born here. P. appear, 310 Then, from her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, VARIATIONS. VER. 305. Originally thus in the MS. When Brafs decays, when Trophies lie o'er-thrown, And mould'ring into duft drops the proud stone. VRR. 319. 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, REMARKS. VER. 309. Henry mourn] Henry VI. P. She faw her fons with purple deaths expire, 321 Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars, 324 At length great ANNA faid--" Let Discord cease!'' She said, the world obey'd, and all was Peace! In that bleft moment from his oozy bed Old father Thames advanc'd his rev'rend head. His treffes drop'd with dews, and o'er the stream His shining horns diffus'd a golden gleam: 330 Grav'd on his urn appear'd the moon, that guides His fwelling waters, and alternate tides; The figur'd streams in waves of filver roll'd, And on her banks Augufta rofe in gold. VARIATIONS. VER. 325. Thus in the MS. Till Anna rofe and bade the Furies ceafe; Let there be peace---fhe faid, and all was Peace. Between Verse 328 and 329, originally stood thefe lines, With sparkling fames heav'n's glowing concave shone, He faw, and gently rofe above the stream; Around his throne the fea-born brothers flood, 335 And fullen Mole, that hides his diving flood; 345 |