Propitious God of Love, thy succour bring;
Whilst I thy darling, thy Alexis sing.
Alexis, as the opening blossoms fair,
Lovely as light, and soft as yielding air.
For him each virgin sighs; and on the plains
The happy youth above each rival reigns.

Nor to the echoing groves, and whisp'ring spring,
In sweeter strains does artful Conon sing;
When loud applauses fill the crowded groves;
And Phoebus the superior song approves.

SILVIA.

Beauteous Aminta is as early light, Breaking the melancholy shades of night. When she is near, all anxious trouble flies; And our reviving hearts confess her eyes. Young love, and blooming joy, and gay desires, In ev'ry breast the beauteous nymph inspires: And on the plain when she no more appears, The plain a dark and gloomy prospect wears. In vain the streams roll on the eastern breeze Dances in vain among the trembling trees. In vain the birds begin their ev'ning song, And to the silent night their notes prolong : Nor groves, nor crystal streams, nor verdant field Does wonted pleasure in her absence yield.

:

AMARYLLIS.

And in his absence, all the pensive day, In some obscure retreat I lonely stray; All day to the repeating caves complain, In mournful accents, and a dying strain.

20

30

40

Dear lovely youth, I cry to all around:
Dear lovely youth, the flattering vales resound.

SILVIA.

On flow'ry banks, by ev'ry murm'ring stream, Aminta is my Muse's softest theme:

"Tis she that does my artful notes refine :

With fair Aminta's name my noblest verse shall shine.

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AMARYLLIS.

I'll twine fresh garlands for Alexis' brows, And consecrate to him eternal vows:

The charming youth shall my Apollo prove:

He shall adorn my songs, and tune my voice to love.

TO THE

AUTHOR OF THE FOREGOING PASTORAL.

B

Y Silvia if thy charming self be meant;
If friendship be thy virgin vows' extent;
O! let me in Aminta's praises join:
Hers my esteem shall be, my passion

thine.

When for thy head the garland I prepare ;

A second Wreath shall bind Aminta's hair:
And when thy choicest songs thy worth proclaim;
Alternate verse shall bless Aminta's name;

My heart shall own the justice of her cause;
And Love himself submit to Friendship's laws. 10
But, if beneath thy numbers' soft disguise,
Some favour'd swain, some true Alexis lies;
If Amaryllis breathes thy secret pains,
And thy fond heart beats measure to thy strains,
Mayst thou, howe'er I grieve, for ever find
The flame propitious, and the lover kind:
May Venus long exert her happy power,
And make thy beauty, like thy verse, endure;
May ev'ry God his friendly aid afford;

Pan guard thy flock, and Ceres bless thy board. 20
But, if by chance the series of thy joys

Permit one thought less cheerful to arise;
Piteous transfer it to the mournful swain,
Who loving much, who not belov'd again,
Feels an ill-fated passion's last excess;
And dies in woe, that thou mayst live in peace.

TO A LADY:

SHE REFUSING TO CONTINUE A DISPUTE WITH ME

AND LEAVING ME IN THE ARGUMENT.

AN ODE.

PARE, gen'rous Victor, spare the slave,
Who did unequal war pursue;

That more than triumph he might have,
In being overcome by you.