Oh! those were golden hours,
When love, devoid of cares,
In all Arcadia's bow'rs
Lodg'd swains and nymphs by pairs:
But now from wood and plain
Flies ev'ry sprightly lass,
No joys for me remain
In shades or on the grass.
At court I never fail
To scatter round my arrows,
Men fall as thick as hail,
And maidens love like sparrows.
Then, Swain! if me you need,
Straight lay your sheep-hook down;
Throw by your oaten reed,
And haste away to Town:
So well I'm known at court,
None asks where Cupid dwells,
But readily resort
To B-----n's or L-----ll's.
DAPHNIS stood pensive in the shade
With arms across and head reclin'd;
Pale looks accus'd the cruel maid,
And sighs reliev'd his love-sick mind:
His tuneful pipe all broken lay,
Looks, sighs, and actions, seem'd to say
My Chloe is unkind.
Why ring the woods with warbling throats?
Ye Larks! ye Linnets! cease your strains;
I faintly hear in your sweet notes,
My Chloe's voice that wakes my pains:
Yet why should you your song forbear?
Your mates delight your song to hear,
But Chloe mine disdains.
As thus he melancholy stood,
Dejected as the lonely dove,
Sweet sounds broke gently thro' the wood;
I feel the sound, my heart-strings move.
'Twas not the nightingale that sung;
No, 'tis my Chloe's sweeter tongue.
Hark, hark, what says my love!
How foolish is the nymph (she cries)
Who trifles with her lover's pain!
Nature still speaks in woman's eyes,
Our artful lips were made to feign.
O Daphnis! Daphnis! 'twas my pride,
'Twas not my heart thy love deny'd;
Come back, dear youth, again.
As t'other day my hand he seiz'd,
My blood with thrilling motion flew !
Sudden I put on looks displeas'd,
And hasty from his hold withdrew.
'Twas fear alone, thou simple swain;
Then hast thou prest my hand again,
My heart had yielded too!-
'Tis true thy tuneful reed I blam'd,
That swell'd thy lip and rosy cheek;
Think not thy skill in song defam'd,
That lip should other pleasure seek:
Much, much thy music I approve;
Yet break thy pipe, for more I love,
Much more, to hear thee speak.
My heart forebodes that I'm betray'd;
Daphnis I fear is ever gone;
Last night with Delia's dog he play'd;
Love by such trifles first comes on.
Now, now, dear Shepherd! come away,
My tongue would now my heart obey.
Ah! Chloe! thou art won.
The youth stepp'd forth with hasty pace,
And found where wishing Chloe lay;
Shame sudden lighten'd in her face,
Confus'd, she knew not what to say:
At last in broken words she cry'd,
To-morrow you in vain had try'd,
But I am lost to-day!
Breath'd odours in ev'ry wind,' Laz
Love enliven'd the veins.
Of the damsels and swains,
Each glance and each action was kind.
Kiss'd, and sat on each knee,
Fond ecstasy swam in her eyes.
See, thy mother is near,
Hark! she calls thee to hear
What Age and Experience advise.
Hast thou seen the blithe dove
Stretch her neck to her love,
All glossy with purple and gold?
If a kiss he obtain,
She returns it again;
What follows you need not be told.
Look ye, Mother! she cry'd,
You instruct me in pride,
And men by good-manners are won:
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