Thither, with glad devotion, Damon came, To thank the powers who blefs'd his faithful flame; Hail, bounteous god! before whose hallow'd shrine My Delia vow'd to be for ever mine, "While, glowing in her cheeks, with tender love, Sweet virgin modesty reluctant strove! And hail to thee, 'fair queen of young defires! Long fhall my heart preserve thy pleafing fires, "Since Delia now can all its warmth return, "As fondly languish, and as fiercely burn. O the dear bloom of laft propitious night! "O fhade more charming than the fairest_light! "Then in my arms I clafp'd the melting maid, "Then all my pains one moment overpaid; "Then firft the fweet excefs of bliss I prov'd, "Which none can taste but who like me have lov'd. "Thou too, bright goddess, once, in Ida's grove, "Didst not disdain to meet a fhepherd's love; "With him, while frisking lambs around you play'd, "Conceal'd you fported in the secret shade : Scarce could Anchifes' raptures equal mine, "And Delia's beauties only yield to thine. "What are ye now, my once most valued joys? Infipid trifles all, and childish toys— Friendship itself ne'er knew a charm like this, "Nor Colin's talk could pleafe like Delia's kifs.· "Ye Muses, skill'd in every winning art, Teach me more deeply to engage her heart ; «Ye "Ye nymphs, to her your fresheft roses bring, "And crown her with the pride of all the fpring: On all her days let health and peace attend "May the ne'er want, nor ever lose, a friend! May fome new pleasure every hour employ: "With thee, my love, for ever will I stay, All night carefs thee, and admire all day; In the fame field our mingled flocks we 'll feed, "To the fame fpring our thirsty heifers lead, Together will we share the harvest toils, Together prefs the vine's autumnal spoils. "Delightful state, where Peace and Love combine, "To bid our tranquil days unclouded shine! 146 "Here limpid fountains roll through flowery meads, "Here rifing forefts lift their verdant heads; "Here let me wear my careless life "And in thy arms infenfibly decay. away, "When late old age our heads fhall filver o'er, "And our flow pulfes dance with joy no more; "When Time no longer will thy beauties fpare, And only Damon's eye fhall think thee fair; "Then may the gentle hand of welcome Death, "At one soft stroke, deprive us both of breath! May we beneath one common ftone be laid, “And the same cypress both our ashes shade ! "Perhaps fome friendly Mufe, in tender verfe, "Shall deign our faithful paffion to rehearse, "And future ages, with just envy mov'd, "Be told how Damon and his Delia lov'd."` SOLILOQUY OF A BEAUTY IN THE COUNTRY. Written at EATON SCHOOL. "TWAS night; and Flavia to her room retir'd, With evening chat and sober reading tir'd; There, melancholy, penfive, and alone, She meditates on the forfaken town: On her rais'd arm reclin'd her drooping head, "Where none admire, 'tis ufelefs to excell; "Beauty, like wit, to judges should be shown; "The town, the court, is Beauty's proper fphere; "That is our Heaven, and we are angels there: In that gay circle thousand Cupids rove, "The court of Britain is the court of Love. "How has my confcious heart with triumph glow'd, "How have my sparkling eyes their transport shew'd, "At each diftinguifh'd birth-night ball, to fee "The homage, due to Empire, paid to me! "When every eye was fix'd on me alone, "And dreaded mine more than the Monarch's frown; "When rival ftatefmen for my favour ftrove, "Less jealous in their power than in their love. "Sleep (wretched maid!) all night, and dream áll iday; "Go at fet hours to dinner and to prayer (For dulinefs ever must be regular.) Now with mamma at tedious whift I play; "Now without scandal drink infipid tea; "Or in the garden breathe the country air, "Secure from meeting any tempter there ; "From books to work, from work to books, I-rovę, * And am (álas !) at leifure to improve! Is this the life a Beauty ought to lead ? "Were eyes fo radiant only made to read? "These fingers, at whose touch ev'n age would glow, "Are these of use for nothing but to few? Sure erring Nature never could defign O Venus, queen and guardian of the fair, BLENHEIM. Written at the UNIVERSITY of OXFORD, In the Year 1727. P } ARENT of arts, whose skilful hand first taught The towering pile to rife, and form'd the plan With fair proportion; architect divine, Minerva; thee to my adventurous lyre Affistant Linvoke, that means to fing Blenheim, proud monument of British fame, Thy glorious work!. for thou the lofty towers Didst to his virtue raise, whom oft thy shield In peril guarded, and thy wifdom steer'd Through all the storms of war.-Thee too I call, Thalia, sylvan Musę, who lov'st to-rove Along the fhady paths and verdant bowers Of Woodstock's happy grove: there tuning fweet Thy rural pipe, while all the Dryad train Attentive liften; let thy warbling fong Paint with melodious praise the pleasing scene, And equal these to Pindus' honor'd shades. When Europe freed, confefs'd the saving power f Malborough's hand; Britain, who fent him forth C 2 Chief |