THE DGMENT of HERCULES. Hile blooming fpring defcends from genial skies, By whofe mild influence inftant wonders rise; whose soft breath Elyfian beauties flow; weets of HAGLEY, or the pride of STOWE; LYTTELTON the rural landfkip range, noify fame, and not regret the change? d will he tread the garden's early scenes, earn a moral from the rifing greens? e, warm'd alike by Sol's enliv'ning pow'r, weed, aspiring, emulates the flow'r : drooping flow'r, its fairer charms display'd, es, from grateful hands, their gen'rous aid: Soon, if none check th' invasive foe's designs, 'Tis thus, the fpring of youth, the morn of life, Thoughtless, the finners or the faints of chance! Lov'd Lov'd by that prince whom ev'ry virtue fires: In all that wins, in all that merits fame! 'Twas youth's perplexing ftage his doubts infpir'd, Arm'd with a heart each false one to despise. The filvan choir whose numbers sweetly flow'd, His glitt'ring ftreams along th' enliven❜d mead; At once, before his wond'ring eyes were seen Two female forms, of more than mortal mien. Various their charms; and,. in their drefs and face, Each feem'd to vie with fome peculiar grace. This, whose attire lefs clogg'd with art appear'd, The fimple sweets of innocence endear'd. Her sprightly bloom, her quick fagacious eye, Shew'd native merit mix'd with modefty. Her air diffus'd a mild yet aweful ray, Severely sweet, and innocently gay. Such the chafte image of the martial maid, In artless folds of virgin white array'd! She let no borrow'd rofe her cheeks adorn, Her blushing cheeks, that sham'd the purple morn. Her charms nor had, nor wanted artful foils, Or study'd gestures, or well-practis'd smiles. She scorn'd the toys which render beauty less; She prov'd th' engaging chastity of dress; And while fhe chofe in native charms to fhine, Ev'n thus fhe feem'd, nay more than feem'd, divine. One modeft em'rald clafp'd the robe she wore, And, in her hand, th' imperial sword she bore. Sublime her height, majestic was her pace, And match'd the aweful honours of her face. The fhrubs, the flow'rs, that deck'd the verdant ground, Seem'd, where fhe trod, with rifing luftre crown'd. Still her approach with ftronger influence warm'd ; She pleas'd, while diftant, but, when near, the charm❜d. So |