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But who the nymph that guides their way?
Could ever nymph defcend to stray
From HAGLEY'S fam'd retreat?
Elfe by the blooming features fair,
The faultless make, the matchless air,
'Twere CYNTHIA's form compleat.

So would fome tuberofe delight,
That struck the pilgrim's wondering fight
'Mid lonely defarts drear;

All as at eve, the fovereign flower,
Dispenses round its balmy power,
And crowns the fragrant year.

Ah, now no more, the fhepherd cry'd,
Must I ambition's charms deride,
Her fubtle force difown;

No more of fawns or fairies dream,
While fancy, near each crystal stream,
Shall paint these forms alone.

By low-brow'd rock, or pathless mead,
I deem'd that splendour ne'er should lead
My dazled eyes aftray;

But who, alas! will dare contend,

If beauty add, or merit blend

Its more illuftrious ray ?

VOL. I.

N

Nor

Nor is it long-O plaintive swain!
Since GUERNSEY faw, without disdain,
Where, hid in woodlands green,
The *partner of his early days,
And once the rival of his praife,
Had ftol'n thro' life unfeen.

Scarce faded is the vernal flower,

Since STAMFORD left his honour'd bower
To fmile familiar here:

O form'd by nature to disclose

How fair that courtefy which flows

From focial warmth fincere.

Nor yet have many moons decay'd,
Since POLLIO fought this lonely shade,
Admir'd this rural maze:

The nobleft breast that virtue fires,
The graces love, the muse infpires,
Might pant for POLLIO's praise.

Say THOMSON here was known to reft,
For him yon vernal feat I dreft,

Ah, never to return!

In place of wit, and melting ftrains,
And focial mirth, it now remains

Το

weep befide his urn.

They were fchool-fellows.

Come

Come then, my LELIUS, come once more,
And fringe the melancholy shore
With roses and with bays,
While I each wayward fate accufe,
That envy'd his impartial muse
To fing your early praise.

While PHILO, to whose favour'd fight,
Antiquity, with full delight,

Her inmost wealth displays;

Beneath yon ruin's moulder'd wall

Shall muse, and with his friend recall
The pomp of ancient days.

Here too fhall CONWAY's name appear,
He prais'd the stream fo lovely clear,
That shone the reeds among;
Yet clearness could it not disclose,
To match the rhetoric that flows
From CONWAY's polish'd tongue.

Ev'n PITT, whofe fervent periods roll
Refiftless, thro' the kindling foul

Of fenates, councils, kings!

Tho' form'd for courts, vouchfaf'd to rove
Inglorious, thro' the fhepherd's grove,
And ope his bafhful springs.

But what can courts difcover more,

Than these rude haunts have seen before,
Each fount and fhady tree?

Have not these trees and fountains feen

The pride of courts, the winning mien
Of peerless AYLESBURY?

And GRENVILLE, fhe whofe radiant eyes
Have mark'd by flow gradation rife
The princely piles of STOW;
Yet prais'd these unembellish'd woods,
And smil'd to fee the babbling floods
Thro' felf-worn mazes flow.

Say DARTMOUTH, who your banks admir'd,
Again beneath your caves retir'd,

Shall

grace the pensive shade;

With all the bloom, with all the truth,

With all the sprightlinefs of youth,
By cool reflection sway'd?

Brave, yet humane, fhall SMITH appear,
Ye failors, tho' his name be dear,

Think him not yours alone:

Grant him in other spheres to charm,

The fhepherds breafts tho' mild are warm,
And ours are all his own.

O LYT

O LYTTELTON! my honour'd guest,
Could I defcribe thy generous breast,
Thy firm, yet polish'd mind;
How public love adorns thy name,
How fortune too confpires with fame;
The fong should please mankind.

VERSES written towards the close of the Year 1748, to WILLIAM LYTTELTON, Efq;

WOW blithely pass'd the funimer's day!

HOW

How bright was every flow'r!

While friends arriv'd, in circles gay,

To vifit DAMON's bow'r!

But now, with filent step, I range
Along fome lonely shore;

And DAMON's bow'r, alas the change!
gay with friends no more.

Is

Away to crowds and cities borne
In queft of joy they steer;
Whilft I, alas! am left forlorn,
To weep the parting year!

O penfive Autumn! how I grieve
Thy forrowing face to fee!

When languid funs are taking leave

Of every drooping tree.