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ECLOGUE VIII.

THE PARTING.

Multi

Committunt eadem diverso crimina fato;

Ille crucem pretium sceleris tulit, hic diadema."

JUV.

CLOSE in those walls, which Frank's* mistaken zeal,
To please a rabble, christen'd the Bastile,
Whose lofty turrets overlook the plains,
Where laughter-loving nymphs and jocund swains
In motley numbers, once a year repair
To hold the ancient rites of Gooseb'ry Fair!
Close in those walls, which ne'er a rival knew
Till Peter's+ noisy Rostrum rose to view,
(For Peter, to give Lucifer a rub,

The Sons of Bridewell lectures from his tub):
Two faithful Lovers to a cell retir'd,

Both young alike, and by the Muse inspir'd;
The red-hair'd Thyrsis, and the downcast Ruth,
To whisper vows of constancy and truth:
For now the Transport was equipp'd to sail,

* Sir Francis Burdett.

+ Huntingdon the Coal-heaver.

And only waited for a prosp'rous gale,
To bear young Thyrsis from his Ruth away,
On a septennial trip to Bot'ny Bay:

And thus the couple, full of am'rous pains,
Rehears'd their sorrows in alternate strains.

Ruth. Since cruel fate ordains that we should part,
Oh! Thyrsis, hear the feelings of my heart-
May I become as odious in thy sight*

As painted Hags at Drawing-rooms by night-
Such, and so monstrous, let thy Ruth appear,
If e'er her conduct give thee cause for fear.

Hence with thy doubts, for shame! for surely she
Deserves reproach from none,—but least from thee.

Thyrsis. Unhappy is the lesser villain's doom, Cut off in fortune's pride, in manhood's bloom! The crafty statesman, favour'd by his King, Obtains a ribbon-but deserves a string; And, thinking it the duty of his station

To cheat the public, and to starve the nation, Leaves Bridewell, Bot'ny Bay, and Tyburn tree, To friendless unprotected rogues like me!

* Immo ego Sardoïs videar tibi amarior herbis, Horridior rusco, projectâ vilior algâ;

Si mihi non hæc lux toto jam longior anno est.

Ruth. I busy was with reading Little's muse, When Cousin Bridget brought the dreadful news:

66

"A pretty joke (she cry'd), your Sweetheart Thyrsis, Who left an honest trade to scribble verses,'

(And looking fiercely with her arms a-kimbo,)
"Has (thank his roguery for it!) got in limbo."
The words she utter'd fill'd me with despair,
I beat my bosom, and I tore my hair,
My face I scarify'd-behold the scars!
And wept aloud, and curs'd my evil stars:
My mother thought me in hysteric fits,
The Doctor said that I had lost my wits;
And cry'd (while to his mouth he did present his
Long amber-headed cane) "Non compos mentis."

*

Thyr. But I must travel far, to climes unknown,* Beneath the scorching or the freezing Zone; Condemn'd, alas! by Law's unjust decree, My home, my friends, my love! no more to see:— We all must reap the harvest that we sow, Good Heav'n! what ills from deeds dishonest flow.

Ruth. Now hear me,Thyrsis, hear the vow I make, To die a faithful virgin for thy sake.

* At nos hinc alii sitientes ibimus Afros:

Pars Scythiam, et rapidum Cretæ veniemus Oaxem, &c.

Let

eager suitors proffer bars of gold, And court me like Penelope of old,

I'll show the rogues, the lady of Ulysses

Had not a heart more true to love, than this is.

Thyr. I know thee, Love! thou surely wert the

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Of some hard judge, or shoulder-tapping dun,
The ruthless pupil of Old Bailey Juries,
Nurs'd by the fiends, and suckled by the furies.

Ruth. O, dread not storms! my sighs shall
waft thee o'er-

Though tempests should arise, and billows roar,
Thy bark shall lightly skim the watʼry realm;
The God of Love, presiding at the helm,
Shall night and day his watchful vigils keep,
And be thy trusty pilot o'er the deep.

Thyr. As to the City 'Prentice, whey and curds, t So to me, gentle maiden! are thy words. As to the longing school-boy, Christmas cheer; To cattle, pastures green and rivers clear;

* Nunc scio quid sit amor.

Duris in cotibus illum, &c.

+ Quale sopor fessis in gramine; quale per æstum Dulcis aquæ saliente sitim restinguere rivo.

To rosy vicars, revelry and ease;

To hungry lawyers, briefs and double fees;
To sick enamorato, Lady's glove ;-

So are thy sweet assurances of love

To this fond heart, which, may I now be curst,
Is not at thought of parting like to burst.

*

Ruth. This night, my Thyrsis, let us banish care,* Cutlets and bottled ale shall be our fare; Thy head shall find a pillow on my breast, My voice shall hush thy sorrows all to rest: For hark! the gaoler shakes his bunch of keys, And ev❜ning Zephyrs die along the trees.

* Hic tamen hanc mecum poteras requiescere noctem Fronde super viridi. Sunt nobis mitia poma, &c.

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