SUM MMER:

THE

SECOND PASTORAL,

OR,

ALEX IS.

A

To Dr. GARTH.

Shepherd's Boy (he feeks no better name) Led forth his flocks along the filver Thame, Where dancing fun-beams on the waters play'd, And verdant alders form'd a quiv'ring shade.

VARIATIONS.

VER. 1, 2, 3, 4. were thus printed in the first edition :
A faithful fwain, whom Love had taught to fing,
Bewail'd his fate befide a filver fpring;

Where gentle Thames his winding waters leads
Thro' verdant forefts, and thro' flow'ry meads. P.

VER. 3. Originally thus in the MS.

There to the winds he plain'd his hapless love,

And Amaryllis fill'd the vocal grove.

REMARK S.

VER. 3. The Scene of this Paftoral by the river's fide; fuitable to the heat of the feafon; the time noon.

P.

Η

Soft as he mourn'd, the ftreams forgot to flow, 5
The flocks around a dumb compaffion show,
The Naïads wept in ev'ry wat'ry bow'r,
And Jove confented in a filent fhow'r.

Accept, O GARTH, the Mufe's early lays, That adds this wreath of ivy to thy bays; Hear what from Love unpractis'd hearts endure, From Love, the fole disease thou canst not cure. Ye fhady beeches, and ye cooling ftreams, Defence from Phoebus', not from Cupid's beams, To you I mourn, nor to the deaf I fing, The woods fhall anfwer, and their echo ring. The hills and rocks attend my doleful lay, Why art thou prouder and more hard than they? The bleating fheep with my complaints agree, They parch'd with heat, and I inflam'd by thee. 29

REMARKS.

15

VER. 9. Dr. Samuel Garth, Author of the Dispensary, was one of the first friends of the Author, whofe acquaint ance with him began at fourteen or fifteen. Their friendhip continued from the year 1703 to 1718, which was that of his death. P.

VER. 16. The woods fhall answer, and their echo ring. Is a line out of Spenfer's Epithalamion. P.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 8. And Jove confented]

Jupiter et læto defcendet plurimus imbri. Virg. P. VER. 15. nor to the deaf I fing,]

Non canimus furdis, refpondent omnia fylvæ. Virg. P.

The fultry Sirius burns the thirsty plains,
While in thy heart eternal winter reigns.

Where ftray ye, Mufes, in what lawn or grove, While your Alexis pines in hopeless love? In those fair fields where facred Ifis glides, 25 Or else where Cam his winding vales divides? As in the crystal spring I view my face, Fresh rising blushes paint the wat'ry glass; But fince those graces please thy eyes no more, I shun the fountains which I fought before. 30 Once I was skill'd in ev'ry herb that grew, And ev'ry plant that drinks the morning dew;

VER. 27.

VARIATIONS.

Oft in the cryftal fpring I caft a view,
And equal'd Hylas, if the glafs be true;

But fince thofe graces meet my eyes no more,
I fhun, etc. P.

REMARK S.

VER. 39. Colin] The name taken by Spenfer in his Eclogues, where his miftrefs is celebrated under that of Rofalinda. P.

IMITATIONS.

VER. 23. Where ftray ye, Muses, etc.]

Quæ nemora, aut qui vos faltus habuere, puellæ
Naïades, indigno cum Gallus amore periret?
Nam neque Parnaffi vobis juga, nam neque Pindi
Ulla moram fecere, neque Aonia Aganippe.

Virg. out of Theocr. P.

VER. 27. Virgil again, from the Cyclops of Theocritus, nuper me in littore vidi,

Cum placidum ventis ftaret mare; non ego Daphnim,
Judice te, metuam, fi nunquam fallat imago. P.

Ah wretched shepherd, what avails thy art,

40

To cure thy lambs, but not to heal thy heart!
Let other fwains attend the rural care,
35
Feed fairer flocks, or richer fleeces sheer :
But nigh yon' mountain let me tune my lays,
Embrace my Love, and bind my brows with bays.
That flute is mine which Colin's tuneful breath
Infpir'd when living, and bequeath'd in death:
He faid; Alexis, take this pipe, the fame
That taught the groves my Rofalinda's name :
But now the reeds shall hang on yonder tree,
For ever filent, fince defpis'd by thee."
Oh! were I made by fome transforming pow'r 45
The captive bird that fings within thy bow'r!
Then might my voice thy lift'ning ears employ,
And I thofe kiffes he receives enjoy.

And yet my numbers please the rural throng, Rough Satyrs dance, and Pan applauds the fong: The Nymphs, forfaking ev'ry cave and spring, 51 Their early fruit, and milk-white turtles bring! Each am'rous nymph prefers her gifts in vain, On you their gifts are all bestow'd again.

IMITATIONS.

VER: 40. bequeath'd in death, etc.] Virg. Ecl. ii.
Eft mihi difparibus feptem compacta cicutis.
Fiftula, Damotas dono mihi quam dedit olim,
Et dixit moriens, Te nunc habet ifta fecundum. P.

For you the swains the fairest flow'rs defign, 55
And in one garland all their beauties join;
Accept the wreath which you deferve alone,
In whom all beauties are compriz'd in one.

See what delights in fylvan fcenes appear!
Descending Gods have found Elyfium here. 60
In woods bright Venus with Adonis ftray'd,
And chafte Diana haunts the forest-shade.
Come, lovely nymph, and bless the filent hours,
When fwains from sheering feek their nightly
bow'ts;

When weary reapers quit the fultry field,

65

And crown'd with corn their thanks to Ceres

yield.

This harmless grove no lurking viper hides,
But in my breast the serpent Love abides.

Here bees from bloffoms fip the rofy dew,

But your Alexis knows no fweets but you.
Oh deign to visit our forfaken feats,

70

The mofly fountains, and the green retreats! Where'er you walk, cool gales fhall fan the glade, Trees, where you fit, fhall croud into a shade:

IMITATION S.

VER. 60. Defcending Gods have found Elyftum here.]
Habitarunt Di quoque fylvas-Virg.

Et formofus oves ad flumina pavit Adonis. Idem. P.