THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 POEMS, 
 
 CONSISTING CHIEFLY 
 O F 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 ASIATIGK LANGUAGES. 
 
 TO WHICH ARE ADDED 
 
 TWO ESSAYS; 
 
 I. On the Poetry of the Eaftern Nations. 
 II. On the Arts, commonly called Imitative. 
 
 ..... Juvat intfgros acccdere fantes, 
 
 Atque baurire^ juvat/jKe novos clccerperg Jtorn. LUCK. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed by W. B o \v y E R and J. NICHOLS; 
 
 For N. C O N A N T (Succeflbr to MR. W H I S T O N), 
 
 in FLEET STREET. 
 
 M DCC LXXVII. 
 
 5522 4
 
 mi 
 
 T O 
 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 THE POEM OP 
 
 S OLIU A, 
 
 ARE MOST RESPECTFULLY 
 
 INSCRIBED 
 BY HER LADYSHIP'S 
 
 MOST OBLIGED 
 AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, 
 THE AUTHOR,
 
 THE CONTENTS. 
 
 SOLIMA, an Arabian eclogue. Page f. 
 
 The PALACE of FORTUNE, an Indian tale. 74 
 
 The SEVEN FOUNTAINS, an Eaftern allegory. 33. 
 
 A Per/tan fong of Hafez. $g k 
 
 An Ode of PETRARCH* 65* 
 
 LAURA, an elegy. 7^ 4 
 
 A Turkijh ode on the Spring* 88. 
 
 The fame, in Latin Trochaicks* 94. 
 
 ARCADIA, a paftoral poem. oy. 
 
 CAISSA, or, The Game at Chefs* 133, 
 
 CARMINUM LIBER* 143, 
 
 ESSAYS* 
 
 On the Poetry of the Eaflern Nations. 163* 
 
 On the Art!) commonly called Imitative* 191. 
 
 * THE
 
 C 
 
 THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TH E reader will probably expecl, that^ 
 before I prefent him with the following 
 mifcellany, I fhould give fome account of the 
 pieces contained in it; and fhould prove the au- 
 thenticity of thofe Eaflern originals, from which 
 I profefs to have tranflated them: indeed, fo 
 many productions, invented in France, have been 
 o$red to the publick as genuine tranflations from 
 ihe languages of Afia, that I ihould have wiftied, 
 
 a 4 for
 
 viii THE PREFACE. 
 
 for my own fake, to clear my publication from 
 the flighted fufpicion of impofture; but there is a 
 circumftance peculiarly hard in the prefent cafe; 
 namely, that, were I to produce the originals them- 
 fdves, it would be impoffible to perfuade fome 
 men, that even they were not forged for the pur- 
 pofe, like the pretended language of Formofa. I 
 fhall, however, attempt in this ftiort preface to 
 fatisfy the reader's expectations. 
 
 The firfl poem in the colleftion, called Solima, is 
 not a regular tranflation from the Arabick language ; 
 but mod of the figures, fentimenrs, and defcrip- 
 tions in it, were really taken from the poets of 
 Arabia: for when I was reading fome of their 
 verfes on benevolence and hofpitality, which they 
 juftiy confider as their moft amiable virtues, I 
 fele<fted thole paflages, that feemed moft likely 
 to run into our meafure, and connefted them in 
 fuch a manner as to form one continued piece, 
 which I fuppofe to be written in praife of an Ara- 
 bian princefs, who had built a caravanfera with 
 
 pleafant
 
 T H E P R E F A C E. ix 
 
 pleafant gardens for the refrefliment of travellers 
 and pilgrims ; an aft of munificence not un- 
 common in Afia. I fhall trouble the reader with 
 only one of the original paffages, from which he 
 may form a tolerable judgement of the reft : 
 
 Kad alama iddhaifo iva'l mojteduno 
 Idha aghbara ofkon wahabbat Jhemalan, 
 Wakhalat an auladiha elmordbiato, 
 Wa lam tar ainon kmoznin belalan, 
 Beenca conto ''errabio el moghitho 
 Leman ydtarica, vuaconto tbemalan, 
 Waconto* nehara behi ]hemfoho> 
 Waconto dagiyy? lleilijlbi helalan. 
 
 that is; * the fl ranger and the pilgrim well know t 
 when tie Jky is dark, and the north-wind rages t 
 when the mother 3 leave their fucking infants, when. 
 no moifture can be feen in the clouds, that tbou art 
 bountiful to them as the faring, that thou art their 
 chief fupport, that thou art a fun to them by day, and 
 a moon in the cloudy night* 
 
 * See this pafTage verfified, SoUm^ line 71. &c. 
 
 The
 
 x THE PREFACE. 
 
 The hint of the next poem, or The Palace of 
 Fortune, was taken from an Indian tale, tranflated 
 a few years ago from the Perjian by a very inge- 
 n: us gviuleman in the fervice of the India-com- 
 pany ; but I have added feveral defcriptions, and 
 epifodes from other Eajlcrn writers, have given a 
 different moral to the whole piece, and have made 
 Come other alterations in it, which may be feen by 
 any one, who wiil take the pains to compare it 
 with the ftory of Rojbana, iii the fecond volume of 
 the tales of Inalulla. 
 
 I have taken a dill greater liberty with the 
 moral allegory, which, in imitation of the Perjian 
 poet NezJ/ni, I have entitled The Seven Fountains 5 
 the general fubjeft of it was borrowed from a 
 (lory in a collection of tales by Ebn Arabfiah, a 
 native of Damafcus, who flouriihed in the fifteenth 
 century, and wrote feveral other works in a very 
 polilhed ftyle, the mod celebrated of which is 
 An bijlory of the life of Tamerlane : but I have 
 
 ingrafted
 
 THE PREFACE. xi 
 
 ingrafted upon the principal allegory an epifode 
 from the Arabian tales of * a thousand and one 
 nights, a copy of which work in Arabick was 
 procured for me by a learned friend at Aleppo. 
 
 The fong, which follows, was firft printed at 
 the end of a Per/tan grammar ; but, for the fatif- 
 faction of thofe who may have any doubt of its 
 being genuine, it feemed proper to fet down the 
 original of it in Roman characters at the bottom 
 of the page. The ode of Petrarch was added, 
 that the reader might compare the manner of the 
 Afiatick poets with that of the Italians, many of 
 whom have written in the true fpirit of the 
 Eajlerns : fome of the Perfian fongs have a ftrik- 
 ing refemblance to the fonnets of Petrarch ; and 
 even the form of thofe little amatory poems was, 
 I believe, brought into Europe by the Arabians: 
 one would almoft imagine the following lines to 
 be tranflated from the Perfian, 
 
 * Sec the ftory of Prince Agib t or the third Calandtr in the 
 Arabian tales, Night 57. &c. 
 
 Aura,
 
 Xll 
 
 Aura, che quclle chiome blonde e crefpe 
 Circondi, e inov'i, e fe* moffa da lord 
 Soavemente, e fpargi quel dolce oro, 
 E pot '/ raccogli, en bet nodi Fincrefpe. 
 
 Cnce there is fcarce a page in the works of Hafez 
 and Ja?ni } in which the fame image, of the breeze 
 playing with the treffes of a beautiful girl, is not 
 agreeably and varioufly exprefled. 
 
 The elegy on the death of Laura was iriferted 
 with the fame view of forming a comparifon 
 between the Oriental and the Italian poetry : 
 the defcription of the fountain of Valchiufa, 
 or Vallis Claufa, which was clofe to Petrarch's 
 houfe, was added to the elegy in the year 
 1769, and was compofed on the very fpot, 
 which I could not forbear vifiting, when I patted 
 by Avignon. 
 
 The Turkijh Ode on the Spring was fetched 
 from many others in the fame language, writ- 
 ten
 
 THE PREFACE. xiii 
 
 ten by Mefihiy a poet of great repute at Conftanti- 
 nople, who lived in the reign of Salman the Be* 
 cond, or the Lawgiver : it is not unlike the Vigil 
 of Venus, which has been afcribed to Catullus ; 
 the meafure of it is nearly the fame with that of 
 the Latin poem ; and it has, like that, a lively 
 burden at the end of every flanza : the works of 
 Mefihi are preferved in the archives of the Royal 
 Society. 
 
 It will be needlefs, I hope, to apologize for the 
 Pajloral, and the poem upon Chefs, which were 
 done as early as at the age of fixteen or feventeen 
 years, and were faved from the fire, in preference 
 to a great many others, becaufe they feemed more 
 corre&ly verfified than the reft. 
 
 It mud not be fuppofed, from my zeal for the 
 literature of dfia, that I mean to place it in com- 
 petition with the beautiful produftions of the Greeks 
 and Romans ; for I am convinced, that, whatever 
 changes we make ia our opinions, we always re- 
 turn
 
 xi? T H E P R E F A C E. 
 
 urn to the writings of the ancients, as to the 
 flandard of true tafle. 
 
 If the novelty of the following poems fhould 
 recommend them to the favour of the reader, it 
 may, probably, be agreeable to him to know, that 
 there are many others of equal or fuperior merit, 
 which have never appeared in any language of 
 Europe ; and I am perfuaded that a writer, ac- 
 quainted with the originals, might imitate them 
 very happily in his native tongue, and that the 
 publick would not be difp leafed to fee the ger 
 nuine compofitions of Arabia and Perjia in an 
 Englijh drefs. The heroick poem of Ferduji might 
 be verfified as eafily as the Iliad, and I fee no rea- 
 fon why the delivery of Perjia by Cyrus fhould not 
 be a fubjeft as interefting to us, as the anger of 
 dchilles, or the wandering of Ulyffes. The Odes of 
 Hafez, and of Mefihi, would fuit our lyrick mea- 
 fures as well as thofe afcribed to Anacreon; and 
 the feven Arabick elegies, that were hung up in 
 the temple of Mecca, and of which there are feve- 
 
 ral
 
 THE PREFACE. xv 
 
 ral fine copies at Oxford, would, no doubt, be 
 highly acceptable to the lovers of antiquity, and 
 the admirers of native genius : but when I pro- 
 pofe a tranflation of thefe Oriental pieces, as a 
 work likely to meet with fuccefs, I only mean to 
 invite my readers, who have leifure and induftry, 
 to the ftudy of the languages, in which they are 
 written, and am very far from infmuating that I 
 have the remoteft defign of performing any part 
 of the tafk myfelf ; for, to fay the truth, I mould 
 not have fuffered even the following trifles to fee 
 the light, if I were not very defirous of recom- 
 mending to the learned world a fpecies of litera- 
 ture, which abounds with fo many new expreffions, 
 new images, and new inventions. 
 
 SOLI-
 
 t . J 
 
 * 
 
 o 
 
 4* 
 
 S O L I M A, 
 
 AN ARABIAN ECLOGUE, 
 Written in the Year 1768. 
 
 YE maids of Aden, hear a loftier tale 
 Than e'er was fung in meadow, bower, or dale* 
 The {miles of Abelah, and Maia's eyes, 
 Where beauty plays, and love in ilumber lies; 
 The fragrant hyacinths of Azza's hair, 
 That wanton with the laughing fummer-air; 
 Love-tin&ur'd cheeks, whence rdfes feek their bloom^ 
 And lips, from which the Zephyr fleals perfume ; 
 Invite no more the wild, unpolifli'd lay, 
 But fly like dreams before the morning ray. 
 
 B then
 
 2 S O L I M A. 
 
 Then farevvcl, love ! and farewel, youthful fires ! 
 A nobler warmth my kindled breaft infpires. 
 Far bolder notes the liftening wood fhall fill : 
 Flow fmooth, ye rivulets ; and, ye gales, be ftill. 
 
 See yon fair groves that o'er Amana rife, 
 And with their fpicy breath embalm the Ikies; 
 Where every breeze fheds incenfe o'er the vales, 
 
 And every fhrub the fcent of mufk exhales ! 
 
 _ 
 See through yon opening glade a glittering fcene, 
 
 Lawns ever gay, and meadows ever green ! 
 
 Then afk the groves, and aik the vocal bowers, 
 
 Who deck'd their fpiry tops with blooming flowers, 
 
 Taught the blue ftream o'er fandy vales to flow, 
 
 And the brown wild with livelieft hues to glow ? 
 
 * Fair Soliina ! the hills and dales will fing; 
 
 Fair Solima ! the diftant echoes ring. 
 
 But not with idle fhows of vain delight, 
 
 To charm the foul, or to beguile the fight ; 
 
 At noon on banks of pleafure to repofe, 
 
 Where bloom intwin'd the lily, pink, and rofe ; 
 
 * It was not eafy in this part of the tranflation to avoul a turn 
 fimilar to that of Pope in the known defcription of the Man of 
 Rofs. 
 
 Not
 
 S O L I M A. 3 
 
 Not In proud piles to heap the nightly feaft, 
 
 Till morn with pearls has deck'd the glowing eaft; 
 
 Ah ! not for this fhe taught thofe bowers to rife, 
 
 And bade all Eden fpring before our eyes : 
 
 Far other thoughts her heavenly mind employ, 
 
 (Hence, empty pride ! and hence, delufive joy !) 
 
 To cheer with fweet repaft the fainting gueft; 
 
 To lull the weary on the couch of reft ; 
 
 To warm the traveller numb'd with winter's cold ; 
 
 The young to cherifh, to fupport the old ; 
 
 The fad to comfort, and the weak protect ; 
 
 The poor to fhelter, and the loft diredl: 
 
 Thefe are her cares, and this her glorious tafk ; 
 
 Can heaven a nobler give, or mortals afk ? 
 
 Come to thefe groves, and thefe life-breathing glades, 
 Ye friendlefs orphans, and ye dowerlefs maids ! 
 With eager hafte your mournful manfions leave, 
 Ye weak, that tremble ; and, ye fick, that grieve \ 
 Here fhall foft tents, o'er flowery lawns difplay'd, 
 At night defend you, and at noon o'erfhade ; 
 Here rofy health the fweets of life will fhower, 
 And new delights beguile each varied hour. 
 
 B 2 Mourns-
 
 4 S O L I M A. 
 
 Mourns there a widow, bath'd in ftreaming tears? 
 Stoops there a fire beneath the weight of years? 
 Weeps there a maid, in pining fadnefs left, 
 Of tender parents, and of hope, bereft ? 
 To Solima their forrovvs they bewail ; 
 To Solima they pour their plaintive tale. 
 She hears; and, radiant as the ftar of day, 
 Through the thick foreft gains her eafy way : 
 She afks what cares the joylefs train opprefs, 
 What ficknefs waftes them, or what wants diilrefs; 
 And, as they mourn, fhe fteals a tender figh, 
 Whilii all her foul fits melting in her eye : 
 Then with a fmile the healing balm beftows, 
 And fheds a tear of pity o'er their woes, 
 Which, as it drops, foTie foft-eyed angel bears 
 Transform'd to pearl, and in his bofom wears.. 
 
 When, chiird with fear, the trembling pilgrim roves- 
 Through pathlefs deferts, and through tangled groves, 
 Where mantling darknefs fpreads her dragon wing, 
 And birds of death tluir fatal dirges fing, 
 While vapours pale a dreadful glimmering caft,. 
 And thrilling horrour howls in every blaft; 
 
 She 

 
 S O L I M A. 5 
 
 'She cheers his gloom with firearm of burfting li^ht, 
 By day a fun, a beaming moon by night ; 
 Darts through the quivering fhacles her heavenly ray, 
 And fpreads with riling flowers his folitary way. 
 
 Ye heavens, for this in fhowers of fwcetnefs fned 
 Your mikleft influence o'er her favour'd head ! 
 Long may her name, which diftant climes {hall praife, 
 Live in our notes, and bloiiom in our lays ! 
 And, like an odorous plant, whofe blufliing flower 
 Paints every dale, and fweetens every bower, 
 Borne to the Ikies in clouds of foft perfume 
 For ever fiourifh, and for ever bloom ! 
 Thefe grateful fongs, ye maids and youths, renew, 
 While frefh-blovvn violets drink the pearly dew; 
 O'er Azib's banks while love-lorn damfels rove, 
 And gales of fragrance breathe from Hager's grove. 
 
 So fung the youth, whofe fweetly-warbled firains 
 Fair Mena heard, and Saba's fpicy plains. 
 Sooth'd with his lay, the ravifh'd air was calm, 
 The winds fcarce whifper'd o'er the waving palm ; 
 The camels bounded o'er the flowery lawn, 
 Like the fwift oftrich, or the fportful fawn; 
 
 B 3 Their
 
 6 S O L I M A. 
 
 Their (liken bands the liftcning rpfe-buds rent, 
 And twin'd their bloflbms round his vocal tent: 
 He fung, till on the bank the moonlight flept, 
 And clofing flowers beneath the night-dew wept; 
 Then ceas'd, and flumber'd in the lap of reft 
 Till the flirill lark had left his low-built neft. 
 Now haftes the Twain to tune his rapturous tales 
 Ja other meadows, and in other vales. 
 
 T HE
 
 [ 7 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 , 
 
 PALACE OF FORTUNE, 
 
 AN INDIAN TALE. 
 
 Written in the Year 1769. 
 
 "T^ .TlLD was the vernal gale, and cairn the day, 
 J. T A When Maia near a cryftal fountain lay, 
 Young Maia, faireft of the blue-eyed maids, 
 That rov'd at noon in Tibet's mufky fhades ; 
 But, haply, wandering through the fields of air, 
 Some fiend had whifper'd Maia, thou art fair ! 
 Hence fwelling pride had fill'd her fimple breaft, 
 And rifing paffions robb'd her mincl of reft ; 
 
 B 4 In
 
 8 THE PALACE 
 
 In courts and glittering towers fhe wifh'd to dwell, 
 And fcorn'd her labouring parent's lowly cell, 
 And now, as gazing o'er the glafly flream, 
 She faw her blooming cheek's reflected beam, 
 Her trefles brighter than the morning iky, 
 And the mild radiance of her fparkling eye, 
 Low fighs and trickling tears by turns fhe ftofe, 
 And thus difcharg'd the anguifh of her foul : 
 " Why glow thofe cheeks, if un.admir'd they glow? 
 fi Why flow thofe treffes, if unprais'd they fiovv ? 
 " Why dart thofe eyes their liquid ray ferene, 
 
 *' Unfejt their influence, and their light unf.eri ? 
 
 ~ 
 
 " Ye heavens !^Was that love-breathing bofom made 
 " To warm dull groves, and cheer the lonely glade ? 
 " Ah, no: thofe blufhes, that enchanting face, 
 ' Some tap'ftriej hall, or gilded bovver, mi^ht grace ; 
 " Might deck the fcenes, where love and pleafure reign, 
 -" And fire with amorous flames the youthful train." 
 
 While thus (he fpoke, a fudden blaze of light 
 Shot through the clouds, and ftruck her dazzled fight. 
 She rais'd her head, aftonifh'd, to the fkies, 
 And vtil'd with trembling hands her aching eyes ; 
 
 When
 
 OF FORTUNE. 
 
 When through the yielding air fhe faw from far 
 
 A goddefs gliding in a golden car, 
 
 That foon defcended on the flowery lawn, 
 
 By two fair yokes of ftarry peacocks drawn : 
 
 A thoufand nymphs with many a fprightly glance 
 
 Form'd round the radiant wheels an airy dance, 
 
 Celeftial fhapes ! in fluid light array M; 
 
 Like twinkling ftars their beamy fandals play'd; 
 
 Their lucid mantles glitter'd in the fun, 
 
 (Webs half fo bright the fllkwonn never fpun) 
 
 Tranfparent robes, that bore the rainbow's hue, 
 
 And finer than the nets of pearly clew 
 
 That morning fpreads o'er every opening flower, 
 
 When fportive fumraer decks his bridal bower. 
 
 The queen herfelf, too fair for mortal fight, 
 Sat in the centre of encircling light. 
 Soon with foft touch fhe rais'd the trembling maid, 
 And by her fide in filent flumber laid : 
 Straight the gay birds difplay'd their fpangled train, 
 And flew refulgent through th 1 aerial plain ; 
 The fairy band their fhining pinions fpread, 
 And, as they role, freih gales of iweetnefs filed ;
 
 jo THE PALACE 
 
 Fann'd with their flowing fkirts, the Iky was mild; 
 And heaven's blue fields with brighter radiance fmil'd. 
 
 Now in a garden deck'd with verdant bowers 
 The glittering car defcends on bending flowers : 
 The goddefs ftill with looks divinely fair 
 Surveys the fleeping objecl of her care; 
 Then o'er her cheek her magick finger lays, 
 Soft as the gale that o'er a violet plays, 
 And thus in founds, that favour'd mortals hear, 
 She gently whifpers in her ravifh'd ear : 
 
 " Awake, fweet maid, and view this charming fcene 
 " For ever beauteous, and for ever green ; 
 " Here living rills of pureft ne&ar flow 
 " O'er meads that with unfading flowerets glow; 
 " Here amorous gales their fcented wings difplay, 
 *< Mov'd by the breath of ever- blooming May; 
 " Here in the lap of pleafure fhalt thou reft, 
 tl Our lov'd companion, and our honour'd gueft." 
 
 The damfel hears the heavenly notes diflil, 
 Like melting fnow, or like a vernal rill. 
 
 She
 
 OF FORTUNE. n 
 
 She lifts her head, and, on her arm reclin'd, 
 Drinks the fweet accents in her cn-ateful mind : 
 
 o 
 
 On all around flie turns her roving eyes, 
 And views the fplendid fcene with glad furprize ; 
 Frefh lawns, and funny banks, and rofeate bowers, 
 Hills white with flocks, and meadows gemm'd with flowers; 
 Cool fhades, a fure defence from fummer's ray, 
 And filver brooks, where wanton dainfels play, 
 Which with foft notes their dimpled cryftal roll'd 
 O'er colour'd fhells and fands of native gold ; 
 A rifing fountain play'd from every ftream, 
 Smil'd as it rofe, and caft a tranfient gleam, 
 Then, gently falling in a vocal fhower, 
 Bath'd every fhrub, and fprinkled every flower, 
 That on the banks, like many a lovely bride, 
 View'd in the liquid glafs their blufhing pride; 
 Whilft on each branch, with purple bloflbms hung, 
 The fportful birds their joyous defcant fung. 
 
 While Maia, thus entranc'd in fweet delight, 
 With each gay objel fed her eager fight, 
 The goddefs mildly caught her willing hand, 
 And led her trembling o'er the flowery land, 
 
 Soon
 
 12 THE PALACE 
 
 Soon flic beheld, where through an opening glade 
 
 A fpacious lake its clear expanfe dilplay'd; 
 
 In mazy curls the flowing jafper vvav'd 
 
 O'er its finooth bed with polifh'd agate pav'd; 
 
 And on a rock of ice, by magick rais'd, 
 
 High in the midft a gorgeous palace b'az'd; 
 
 The funbeams on the gilded portals glanc'd, 
 
 Play'd on the {pi res, and on the turrets danc'd; 
 
 To four bright gates four ivory bridges led, 
 
 With pearls illumin'd, and with rofes fpread : 
 
 And now, more radiant than the morning fun, 
 
 Her eafy way the gliding goddefs won; 
 
 Still by her hand flie held the fearful maid, 
 
 And, as fhe pafs'cl, the fairies homage paid : 
 
 They enter'd flraight the fumptuous palace-hall, 
 
 Where lilken tapeftry emblaz'd the wall, 
 
 Refulgent tiffue, of an heavenly woof; 
 
 And gems unnumber'd fparkled on the roof, 
 
 On whofe blue arch the flaming diamonds play'd, 
 
 As on a iky with living ftars inlay'd ; 
 
 Of precious diadems a regal ftore, 
 
 With globes and fceptres, flrew'd the porphyry floor; 
 
 Rich vefts of eaftcrn kings around were fprcad, 
 
 And glittering zones a fbrry luftre flied : 
 
 But
 
 OF FORTUNE. 13 
 
 But Mala moft admir'cl the pearly firings, 
 
 Gay bracelets, golden chains, and fparkling rings. 
 
 High in the centre of the palace flione, 
 Sufpended in mid-air, an opal throne : 
 To this the queen afcends with royal pride, 
 And fets the favour'd damfel by her fide. 
 Around the throne in myftick order ftand 
 The fairy train, and wait her high command; 
 When thus {he fpeaks : (the maid attentive fips 
 Each word that flows, like neftar, from her lips.) 
 
 " Favourite of heaven, my much-lov'd Maia, know, 
 " From me all joys, all earthly bleffings, flow : 
 " Me fuppliant men imperial Fortune call, 
 " The mighty emprefs of yon rolling ball: 
 (She rais'd her finger, and the wondering maid 
 At diftance hung the dufky globe furvey'd, 
 Saw the round earth with foamino- oceans vein'd. 
 
 O ' 
 
 And labouring clouds on mountain tops fuftain'd.) 
 " To me has fate the pleafmg taik affign'd 
 " To rule the various thoughts of humankind; 
 " To catch each rifing wilh, each ardent prayer, 
 ** And fome to grant, and fome to wafle in air. 
 
 " Know
 
 i 4 THE PALACE 
 
 " Know farther ; as I rang'd the cryftal iky, 
 
 " I faw thee near the murmuring fountain lie ; 
 
 " Mark'd the rough ftorm that gather'd in thy breaft, 
 
 " And knew what care thy joylefs foul oppreft. 
 
 " Straight I refolv'd to bring thee quick, relief, 
 
 " Eafe every weight, and foften every grief; 
 
 " If in this court contented thou canft live, 
 
 " And tafte the joys thefe happy gardens give : 
 
 " But fill thy mind with vain defires no more, 
 
 " And view without a wifh yon fhining ftore : 
 
 " Soon fhall a numerous train before me bend, 
 
 *' And kneeling votaries my fhrine attend; 
 
 tc Warn'd by their empty vanities beware, 
 
 " And fcorn the folly of each human prayer." 
 
 She faid ; and flraight a damfel of her train 
 With tender fingers touch'd a golden chain. 
 Now a foft bell delighted Maia hears, 
 That fweetty trembles on her liftening ears; 
 Through the calm air the melting numbers float, 
 And wanton echo lengthens every note. 
 Soon through the dome a mingled hum arofe, 
 Like the fwift ftream that o'er a valley flows ; 
 
 Novr
 
 OF FORTUNE. 15 
 
 Now louder ftill it grew, and flill more loud, 
 As diftant thunder breaks the burfting cloud : 
 Through the four portals rufh'd a various throng, 
 That like a wintry torrent pour'd along: 
 A croud of every tongue, and every hue, 
 Toward the bright throne with eager rapture fle\y. 
 * A lovely {tripling flepp'd before the reft 
 With hafty pace, and tow'rd the goddefs preft; 
 His mien was graceful, and his looks were mild, 
 And in his eye celelHal fweetnefs fmil'd : 
 Youth's purple glow, and beauty's rofy beam, 
 O'er his fmooth checks diffus'd a lively gleam j 
 The floating ringlets of his mufky hair 
 Wav'd on the hofom of the wanton air : 
 With modeft grace the goddefs he addreft, 
 And thoughtlefs thus preferr'd his fond requcft. 
 
 " Queen of the world, whofe wide-extended fway, 
 * c Gay youth, firm manhood, and cold age obey, 
 u Grant me, while life's frem blooming rofes fmile, 
 " The day with varied pleafurcs to beguile; 
 " Let me on beds of dewy flowers recline, 
 " And quaff with glowing lips the iparkling wine; 
 
 * Pleafure. 
 
 " Grant 

 
 16 THE PALACE 
 
 " Grant me to feed on beauty's rifled charms, 
 
 <e And clafp a willing damfel in my arms ; 
 
 " Her bofom fairer than a hill of mow, 
 
 " And gently bounding like a playful roe; 
 
 " Her lips more fragrant than the fummer air, 
 
 " And fvveet as Scythian mufk her hyacinthine hair} 
 
 " Let new delights each dancing hour employ, 
 
 " Sport follow fport, and joy fucceed to joy." 
 
 The goddefs grants the fimple youth's requeft, 
 And mildly thus accofts her lovely gueft: 
 " On that fmooth mirror, full of magick light, 
 " Awhile, dear Mala, fix thy wandering fight." 
 She looks ; and in th' enchanted cryftal fees 
 A bower o'er-canopied with tufted trees : 
 The wanton ftripling lies beneath the fhade, 
 And by his fide reclines a blooming maid; 
 O'er her fair limbs a filken mantle flows, 
 Through which her youthful beauty foftly glows, 
 And part conceal'd, and part difclos'd to fight, 
 Through the thin texture cafts a ruddy light, 
 As the ripe clufters of the mantling vine 
 Beneath the verdant foliage faintly fhine, 
 
 Aixf,
 
 OF FORTUNE. 17 
 
 And, fearing to be view'd by envious day, 
 *Their glowing tints unwillingly difplay. 
 
 The youth, while joy fits fparkling in his eyes, 
 Pants on her neck, and on her bofom dies ; 
 From her fmooth cheek riectareous dew he fips, 
 And all his foul comes breathing to his lips. 
 But Maia turns her modeft eyes away, 
 And blufhes to behold their amorous play. 
 
 She looks again, and fees with fad furprize 
 On the clear glafs far different fcenes arife : 
 The bower, which late outfhone the rofy morn, 
 O'erhung with weeds fhe faw, and rough with thorn } 
 With (lings of afps the leaflefs plants were wreath'd, 
 And curling adders gales of venom breath'd : 
 Low fat the {tripling on the faded ground, 
 And in a mournful knot his arms were bound; 
 His eyes, that (hot before a funny beam, 
 Now fcarcely (lied a faddening, dying gleam ; 
 Faint as a glimmering taper's wafted light, 
 Or a dull ray that ftreaks the cloudy night : 
 His cryftal vafe was on the pavement roll'd, 
 And from the bank was fall'n his cup of gold ; 
 
 C From
 
 i8 THE PAL ACE 
 
 From which tli' envcnom'd dregs of deadly hue 
 Flow'd on the ground in ftreams of baleful dew, 
 And, flovvly dealing through the witherM bower, 
 Poifon'd each plant, and blafted every flower : 
 Fled were his Haves, and fled his yielding fair, 
 And each gay phantom was dilTolv'd in air ; 
 Whilft in their place was left a ruthlefs train, 
 Defpair, and grief, remorfe, and raging pain. 
 
 Afide the damfel turns her weeping eyes, 
 And fad reflections in her bofom rife ; 
 To whom thus mildly fpeaks the radiant queen : 
 " Take fage example from this moral fcene j 
 " See, how vain pleafures fting the lips they kifs, 
 <: How afps are hid beneath the bowers of blifs ! 
 " Whilft ever fair the flower of temperance blows, 
 " Unchang'd her leaf, and without thorn her rofe ; 
 " Smiling fhe darts her glittering branch on high, 
 *' And fpreads her fragrant bloflbms to the Iky." 
 
 * Next tow'rd the throne fhe faw a knight advance ; 
 Erect he ilood, and fLook a quivering lance ; 
 
 * Glory. 
 
 A fiery
 
 OPPORTUNE. 19 
 
 A fiery dragon on his helmet fhone ; 
 And on his buckler beam'd a golden fun ; 
 O'er his broad bofom blaz'd his jointed mail 
 With many a gem, and many a fhining fcalc ; 
 He trod the founding floor with princely mien, 
 And thus with haughty words addrefs'd the queen : 
 " Let falling kings beneath my javelin bleed, 
 (( And bind my temples with a victor's meed; 
 * e Let every realm that feels the folar ray, 
 " Shrink at my frown, and own my regal fway : 
 " Let Ind's rich banks declare my dcathlefs fame^ 
 " And trembling Ganges dread my potent name." 
 
 The queen confented to the warriour's pray'r, 
 And his bright banners floated in the air : 
 He bade his darts in fteely tempefts flyj 
 Flames burft the clouds, and thunder fhake the fky $ 
 Death aim'd his lance, earth trembled at his nod, 
 And crimfon conqueft glow'd where'er he trod; 
 
 And now the damfel, fiVd in deep amaze^ 
 Th' enchanted glafs with eager look furveys: 
 She fees the hero in his duiky tent, 
 His gvaards retir'd^ his glimmering taper fpent ; 
 
 Hl9
 
 20 THE PALACE 
 
 His fpear, vain inftrument of dying praifey 
 
 On the rich floor with idle ftate he lays; 
 
 His gory falchion near his pillow flood, 
 
 And ftain'd the ground with drops of purple blood; 
 
 A bufy page his nodding helm unlac'd, 
 
 And on the couch his fcaly hauberk plac'd : 
 
 Now on the bed his weary limbs he throws, 
 
 Bath'd in the balmy dew of foft repofe : 
 
 In dreams he rufhes o'er the gloomy field, 
 
 He fees new armies fly, new heroes yield ; 
 
 Warm with the 1 vigorous conflict he appears, 
 
 And ev'n in flumber feems to move the fpheres. 
 
 But lo ! the faithlefs page, with ftealing tread, 
 
 Advances to the champion's naked head ; 
 
 With his fharp dagger wounds his bleeding breafij 
 
 And fleeps his eyelids in eternal reft : 
 
 Then cries, (and waves the fteel that drops with gore) 
 
 " The tyrant dies; oppreflion is no more." 
 
 * Now came an aged fire with trembling pace ; 
 Sunk were his eyes, and pale his ghaftly face ; 
 A ragged weed of dufky hue he wore, 
 And on his back a ponderous coffer bore. 
 
 * Riches. 
 
 Thfl
 
 OFFORTUNE. 21 
 
 The queen with faltering fpeech he thus add reft : 
 " O, fill with gold thy true adorer's cheft !" 
 
 " Behold, faid fhe, and wav'd her powerful hand, 
 <( Where yon rich hills in glittering order ftand : 
 " There load thy coffer with the golden (lore ; 
 " Then bear it full away, and alk no more." 
 
 With eager fteps he took his hafty way, 
 Where the bright coin in heaps unnumber'd lay ; 
 There hung enamour'cl o'er the gleaming ipoil, 
 Scoop'd the gay drofs, and bent beneath the toil. 
 But bitter was his anguifh, to behold 
 The coffer widen, and its fides unfold : 
 And every time he heap'd the darling ore, 
 His greedy cheft grew larger than before ; 
 Till, rpent with pain, and falling o'er his hoard, 
 With his fharp fleel his maddening breaft he gor'd : 
 On the lov'd heap he caft his clofing eye, 
 Contented on a golden couch to die. 
 
 o 
 
 A ftripling, with the fair adventure pleas'd, 
 Stepp'd forward, and the mafly ccfFer feiz'd j 
 
 C 3 But
 
 *i THEPALACE 
 
 But w itli furprize he favv the fto res decay, 
 And all the long-fought treafures melt away: 
 In winding flreams the liquid metal roll'd, 
 through the palace ran a flood of gold. 
 
 * Next to the flirine advanc'd a reverend fage, 
 Whofe beard was hoary with the frofl of age ; 
 His few gray locks a fable fillet bound, 
 And his dark mantle flow'd along the ground: 
 Grave was his port, yet Ihow'd a bold negleft, 
 And fill'd the young beholder with refpeft ; 
 Time's envious hand had plough'd his wrinkled face, 
 "Yet on thofe wrinkles fat fuperiour grace \ 
 Still full of fire appear'd'his vivid eye, 
 Darted quick beams, and feem'd to pierce the fky. 
 At length, with gentle voice and look ferene, 
 He wav'd his hand, and thus addrefs'd the queen : 
 
 " Twice forty winters tip my beard with fnow, 
 " And age's chilling gufts around me blow : 
 " In early youth, by contemplation led, 
 <' With high purfuits my flatter'd thoughts were fed} 
 
 * Knowledge.
 
 O F F O R r a N E. 23 
 
 " To nature firft my labours were confin'd, 
 
 " And all her charms were open'd to my mind, 
 
 " Each flower that gliften'd in the morning clew, 
 
 " And every fhrub that in the forcft grew : 
 
 " From earth to heaven I caft my wondering eyes, 
 
 " Saw funs unnumber'cl fparkle in the skies, 
 
 " Mark'd the juft progrefs of each rolling fphere, 
 
 " Defcrib'd the feafons, and refbrm'd the year. 
 
 *' At length fublimer ftudies I began, 
 
 " And fix'd my level'd telefcope on man ; 
 
 <{ Knew all his powers, and all his paffions trac'cl, 
 
 (< What virtue rais'd him, and what vice debas'd : 
 
 " But when I faw his knowledge fo confin'd, 
 
 " So vain his wifhes, and fo weak his mind, 
 
 " His foul, a bright obfcurity at befr, 
 
 " And rough with tempefts his afflicted breaft, 
 
 " His life, a flower ere evening lure to fade, 
 
 " His higheft joys, the fliadow of a fliade ; 
 
 " To thy fair court I took my weary way, 
 
 u Bewail my folly, and heaven's laws obey, 
 
 " Confefs my feeble mind for prayers unfit, 
 
 <; And to my maker's will my foul fubmit : 
 
 " Great emprefs of yon orb that rolls below, 
 
 " On me the lafl heft gift of heaven beftow." 
 
 C 4 He
 
 24 THE PALACE 
 
 He fpoke : a fudden cloud his fenfes ftole, 
 And thickening darknefs fwam o'er all his foul ; 
 His vital fpark her earthly cell forfook, 
 And into air her fleeting progrefs took. 
 
 Now from the throng a deafening found was heard, 
 And all at once their various prayers preferr'd ; 
 The goddefs, wearied with the noify croud, 
 Thrice wav'd her filver wand, and fpoke aloud : 
 " Our ears no more with vain petitions tire, 
 " Bet take unheard whatever you firft defire." 
 She faid c each wifh'd, and what he wifh'd obtain'd j 
 And wild ccnfuflon in ithe palace reign'd. 
 
 But Maia, now grown fenfelefs with delight, 
 Caft on an emerald ring her roving fight ; 
 And, ere fhe could furvey the reft with care, 
 Wifh'd on her hand the precious gem to wear. 
 
 Sudden the palace vanifh'd from her fight, 
 And the gay fabrick melted into night; 
 But, in its place, fhe view'd with weeping eyes 
 Huge rocks around her, and fharp cliffs arife ; 
 
 She
 
 OF FORTUNE. 25 
 
 She fat deferted on the naked fhore, 
 Saw the curlM waves, and heard the temped roar ; 
 Whilft on her finger fhone the fatal ring, 
 A weak defence from hunger's pointed fting, 
 From fad remorfe, from comfortlefs defpair, 
 And all the painful family of care ! 
 Frantick with grief her rofy cheek fhe tore, 
 And rent her locks, her darling charge no more : 
 But when the night his raven wing had fpread, 
 And hung with fable every mountain's head, 
 Her tender limbs were numb'd with biting cold, 
 And round her feet the curling billows roll'd ; 
 With trembling arms a rifted crag fhe grafp'd, 
 And the rough rock with hard embraces clafp'd. 
 
 While thus flie flood, and made a piercing moan, 
 By chance her emerald touch'd the rugged ftone; 
 That moment gleam'd from heaven a golden ray, 
 And taught the gloom to counterfeit the day : 
 A winged youth, for mortal eyes too fair, 
 Shot like a meteor through the dufky air; 
 His heavenly charms o'ercame her dazled fight, 
 And drown'd her fenfcs in a flood of light; 
 
 His
 
 26 THE PALACE 
 
 His funny plumes defcending he difplay'd, 
 And fofcly thus addrefs'd the mournful maid : 
 
 " Say, thou, who doft yon wondroui ring pofTefs,, 
 ce What cares difturb thee, or what wants opprefs; 
 " To faithful ears difclofe thy fecret grief, 
 " And hope (fo heaven ordains) a quick relief." 
 
 The maid replied, " Ah, facred genius, bear 
 " A hopelefs damfel from this land of care ; 
 * Waft me to fofter climes and lovelier plains, 
 '* Where nature fmiles, and fpring eternal reigns." 
 
 She fpoke ; and fwifter than the glance of thought 
 To a fair ifle his fleeping charge he brought. 
 
 Now morning breath'd : the fcented air was mild, 
 Each meadow blcfibm'd, and each valley fmil'd ; 
 On every fhrub the pearly dewdrops hung, 
 On every branch a feather'd warbler fung ; 
 The cheerful fpring her flowery chaplets wove, 
 And incenic-breathing gales perfum'd the grove. 
 
 The
 
 OF FORTUNE. 2 
 
 i 
 
 The clamfelrofe; and, loft in glad furprize, 
 Gail round the gay expanfe her opening eyes, 
 That fhone with pleafure like a flarry beam, 
 Or moonlight fparkling on a filver ftrcam. 
 She thought fome nymph muft haunt that lovely fcene, 
 Some woodland goddefs, or fome fairy queen; 
 At leaft file hop'd in fome fcquefler'd vale 
 To hear the fhepherd tell his amorous talc : 
 ]Led by thefe flattering hopes from glade to glade, 
 From lawn to lawn with hafty fteps flie ftray'cl; 
 But not a nymph by dream or fountain flood, 
 And not a fairy glided through the wood ; 
 No damfel wanton'd o'er the dewy flowers, 
 No fhepherd fung beneath the rofy bowers : 
 On every fide fhe faw vaft mountains rife, 
 That thruft their daring foreheads in the fkies; 
 The rocks of polifh'd alabafter feem'd, 
 And in the fun their-lofty fummits gleam'd. 
 She call'd aloud, but not a voice replied, 
 Save echo babling from the mountain's fide,
 
 28 THE PALACE 
 
 By this had night o'ercaft the gloomy fcene, 
 And twinkling ftars emblaz'd the blue ferene 
 Yet on (he wander'd till with grief oppreft 
 She fell ; and, falling, fmote her fnowy breaft: 
 Now to the heavens her guilty head fhe rears, 
 And pours her burfting forrow into tears ; 
 Then plaintive fpeaks, " Ah ! fond miftaken maid, 
 " How was thy mind by gilded hopes betray'd ! 
 " Why didft thou \vifh for bowers and flowery hills, 
 " For fmiling meadows, and for purling rills ; 
 *' Since on thofe hills no youth or damfel roves, 
 " No fhepherd haunts the folitary groves ? 
 *' Ye meads that glow with intermingled dyes, 
 " Ye flowering palms that from yon hillocks rife, 
 " Ye quivering brooks that foftly murmur by, 
 " Ye panting gales that on the branches die; 
 " Ah ! why has Nature through her gay domain 
 " Difplay'd your beauties, yet difplay'd in vain ? 
 " In vain, ye flowers, you boaft your vernal bloom, 
 " And wafte in barren air your frefh perfume. 
 " Ah ! leave, ye wanton birds, yon lonely fprayj 
 " Unheard you warble, and unfecn you play : 
 
 " Yet
 
 OPPORTUNE. 29 
 
 <c Yet ftay till fate has fix'd my early doom, 
 " And ftrow with leaves a haplefs damfel's tomb. 
 " Some grot or graffy bank fhall be my bier, 
 " My maiden herfe unwater'd with a tear." 
 
 Thus while fhe mourns, o'erwhelm'd in deep defpair, 
 She rends her filken robes, and golden hair : 
 Her fatal ring, the caufe of all her woes, 
 On a hard rock with maddening rage fhe throws ; 
 The gem, rebounding from the flone, difplays 
 Its verdant hue, and fheds refrefhing rays : 
 Sudden defcends the genius of the ring, 
 And drops celeftial fragrance from his wing ; 
 Then fpeaks, " Who calls me from the realms of day ? 
 *' Afk, and I grant; command, and I obey.*' 
 
 She drank his melting words with ravifh'd ears, 
 And ftopp'd the gufhing current of her tears ; 
 Then kifs'd his fkirts, that like a ruby glow'd, 
 And faid, " O bear me to my fire's abode." 
 
 Straight o'er her eyes a fhady veil arofe, 
 And all her foul was lull'd in ftill repofe.
 
 So THE PALACE OF 
 
 By this with flowers the rofy-finger'd dawn 
 Had fpread each dewy hill and verdurous lawn ; 
 She wak'd, and faw a new-built tomb that Hood 
 In the dark bofom of a iblemn wood, 
 While thefe fad founds her trembling ears inva,de: 
 ff Beneath yon marble fleeps thy father's (hade." 
 She figh'd, fhe wept ; (he ftruck her penfive bread, 
 And bade his urn in peaceful (lumber reft. 
 
 And now in filence o'er the gloomy land 
 She faw advance a (lowly-winding band ; 
 Their cheeks were veil'd, their robes of mournful hue 
 Flow'd o'er the lawn, and fwept the pearly dew ; 
 O'er the frem turf they fprinkled fweet perfume^ 
 And ftrow'd with flowers the venerable tomb. 
 A graceful matron walk'd before the train, 
 And tun'd in notes of wo the funeral drain : 
 When from her face her filken veil (lie drew, 
 The watchful maid her aged mother knew. 
 O'erpowered with burfting joy (lie runs to meet 
 The mourning dame, an.d falls before her feet. 
 The matron with furprize her daughter rears, 
 Hangs on her neck, and mingles tears with tears. 
 
 Now
 
 OF FORTUNE. 31 
 
 Now o'er the tomb their hallow'd rites they pay, 
 And form with lamps an artificial clay : 
 Erelong the damfel reach'd her native vale, 
 And told with joyful heart her moral tale ; 
 Refign'd to heaven, and loft to all betide, 
 She Uv'd contented, and contented died. 
 
 THE,
 
 [ 33 ] 
 
 SEVEN FOUNTAINS, 
 
 AN EASTERN ALLEGORY. 
 Written in the Year 1767. 
 
 DECK'D with frefh garlands, like a rural bride, 
 And with the crimfon ftreamer's waving pride > 
 A wanton bark was floating o'er the main, 
 And feem'd with fcorn to view the azure plain: 
 Smooth were the waves; and fcarce a Whifpering gale 
 Fann'd with his gentle plumes the filken fail. 
 High on the burnifh'd deck, a gilded throne 
 With orient pearls and beaming diamonds fnone } 
 
 D On
 
 34 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS, 
 
 On which rcclin'd a youth of graceful mien, 
 
 His fandals purple, and his mantle green ; 
 
 His locks in ringlets o'er his (boulders roll'cl, 
 
 And on his cheek appear'^ the downy gold. 
 
 Around him flood a train of fmiling boys, 
 
 Sporting with idle cheer and mirthful toys ; 
 
 * Ten comely ftriplings, girt with fpangled wings, 
 
 Blew piercing flutes, or touch* J the quivering firings 
 
 Ten more, in cadence to the fprightly {train, 
 
 Wak'd with their golden oars the (lumbering main: 
 
 The waters yielded to their guiltlefs blows, 
 
 And the green billows fparkled as they role. 
 
 Long time the barge had danc'd along the 
 And on its glaffy bofom feemM to fleep ; 
 f But now a glittering ifle arofe in view, 
 Bounded with hillocks of a verdant hue : 
 Frefh groves and rofeate bowers appear'd above, 
 (Fit haunts, be fure, of plea lure and of love) 
 And higher ftill a thoufand bla/.ing fpires 
 Seem'd with gilt tops to threat the heavenly fires. 
 Now each fair flripling plied his labouring oar, 
 And ftraight the pinnace ftruck the fandy fliore. 
 
 * The follies of jouth f The world. 
 
 Thfr
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 3i 
 
 The youth arofe, and, leaping on the ftrancJ, 
 Took his lone way along the filver fund ; 
 While the light bark, and all the airy cre\v$ 
 Sunk like a rnift beneath the briny dew* 
 
 With eager Heps the young adventurer ftray'U 
 Through many a grove, and many a winding glade: 
 At length he heard the chime of tuneful firings, 
 That fvveetly floated on the Zephyr's wings; 
 * And foon a band of darafels blithe and fair, 
 With flowing mantles and difhevel'd hair, 
 Rufh'd with quick pace along the folemn wooclj 
 Where rapt in wonder and delight he flood : 
 In loofe tranfparent robes they were array'd, 
 XVhich half their beauties hid, and half difplayM* 
 
 A lovely nymph approach'd him with a fmile^ 
 And faid, " O, welcome to this blifsful ifle ! 
 " For thou art he, whom ancient bards foretold, 
 " DoomM in our clime to bring an age of gold: 
 ** Hail, facred king ! and from thy fubjecVs hand, 
 " Accept the robes and Iceptre of the land." 
 
 * The follies and vanities of the world. 
 
 D 3 " Swett
 
 S 6 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 
 
 " Sweet maid, faicl he, fair learning's heavenly beam 
 " O'er my young mind n'er fhed her favouring gleam j 
 *' Nor has my arm e'er hurl'd the fatal lance, 
 Ct While defperate legions o'er the plain advance. 
 <{ How fliould a umple youth, unfit to beat 
 u The fteely mail, that fplendid mantle wear !" 
 Cf Ah ! faid the damfel, from this happy fhore, 
 ( We banifh. wifdom, and her idle lore; 
 " No clarions here the ftrains of battle fing, 
 <; With notes of mirth our joyful valleys ring. 
 " Peace to the brave ! o'er us the beauteous reign, 
 " And ever-charming pleafures form our train." 
 
 This faid, a diadem, inlay'd with pearls, 
 She plac'd refpe&ful on his golden curls ; 
 Another o'er his graceful fhoulder threw 
 A filken mantle of the rofe's hue, 
 Which, clafp'd with ftuds of gold, behind him flow'd, 
 And through the folds his glowing bofom fliow'd. 
 Then in a car, by fnow-white courfers drawn, 
 They led him o'er the dew-befprinkled lawn, 
 Through groves of joy and arbours of delight, 
 With all that could allure his ravifh'd fight ; 
 
 Green
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 37 
 
 Green hillocks, meads, and rofy grots, he view'd, 
 
 And verdurous plains with winding ftreams bedew'd. 
 
 On every bank, and under every (hade, 
 
 A thoufand youths, a thoufand damfels play'd ; 
 
 Some wantonly were tripping in a ring 
 
 On the foft border of a gufliing fpring; 
 
 While fome, reclining in the fhady vales, 
 
 Told to their fmiling loves their amorous tales : 
 
 But when the fportful train beheld from far 
 
 The nymphs returning with the ftately car, 
 
 O'er the fmooth plain with hafty fteps they came, 
 
 And hail'cl their youthful king with loud acclaim ; 
 
 With flowers of every tint the paths they ftrow'd, 
 
 And cafl their cftaplets on the hallow'd road. 
 
 At la.fi. they reach'd the bofom of a wood, 
 Where on a hill a radiant palace flood ; 
 A fumptuous dome, by hands immortal made, 
 Which on its walls and on its gates difplay'd 
 The gems that in the rocks of Tibet glow, 
 The pearls that in the fhells of Ormus grow. 
 And now a numerous train advance to meet 
 The youth, defcending from his regal feat; 
 
 D 3 Whom
 
 38 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS, 
 
 Whom to a rich and fpacious hall they led, 
 With filken carpets delicately fpread : 
 There on a throne, with gems unnumber'd grac'd, 
 Their lovely king fix blooming damfels plac'd *, 
 And, meekly kneeling, to his modeft hand 
 They gave the glittering fceptre pf command ; 
 Then on fix fmaller thrones they fat reclin'd, 
 And vvatch'd the rifmg tranfports of his mind : 
 When thus the youth a blufhing nymph addrefs'd, 
 And, as he fpoke, her hand with rapture prefsM ; 
 
 ff Say, gentle damfel, may I a/k unblam'd, 
 '* How this gay ifle, and fplendid feats are nam'd ? 
 " And you, fair queens of beauty and of grace, 
 " Are you of earthly or celeftial race ? 
 " To me the world's bright treafures were unknowr.j 
 *' Where late I wander'd, penfive and alone; 
 ." And, flovvly winding on my native fhore, 
 .'* Saw the vaft ocean roll, but faw no more-; 
 *' Till from the waves with many a charming fong. 
 " A barge arofc, and gayly mov'd along ; 
 *' The jolly rowers rcach'd the yielding lands, 
 .* AUur'cl my fteps, and wav'd their fhining hands : 
 * The pleafures of the fcafcs. 
 
 " I went,
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 39 
 
 '* I went, falutcd by the vocal train, 
 " And the fwift pinnace cleav'd the waves again; 
 " When on this ifland ftruck the gilded prow, 
 *' I landed full of joy : the reft you know. 
 " Short is the flory of my tender years : 
 ** Now t fpeak, fweet nymph, and charm my liftcning 
 ears." 
 
 ** Thefe are the groves, for ever deck'd with flowers, 
 ** The maid replied, and thefe the fragrant bowers, 
 ** Where Love and Pleafure hold their airy court, 
 ** The feat of blifs, of fprightlinefs, and fport; 
 " And we, dear youth, are nymphs of heavenly line; 
 " Our fouls immortal, as our forms divine: 
 " For Maia, filPd with Zephyr's warm embrace, 
 " In caves and forefts cover'd her difgrace ; 
 " At laft fhe reftecl on this peaceful (liore, 
 " Where in yon grot a lovely boy flie bore, 
 *' Whom frefh and wild and frolick from his birth 
 * She nurs'd in myrtle bowers, and call'd him Mirth. 
 " He on a fummer's morning chanc'd to rove 
 66 Through the green labyrinth of fome fhady grove, 
 " Where, by a dimpled rivulet's verdant fide, 
 " A riling bank, with woodbine eclg'd, he fpied : 
 
 D 4 " There,
 
 40 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 " There, veil'd with flowerets of a thoufand hues, 
 
 " A nymph lay bath VI in (lumber's balmy dews; 
 
 " (This maid by fome, for fome our race defame,' 
 
 " Was Folly call'd, but Pleafure was her name :) 
 
 " Her mantle, like the /ky in April, blue, 
 
 " Hi.ng on a bloffom'd branch that near her grew ; 
 
 " For, long difporting in the iilver ftream, 
 
 " She fhunn'd the blazing day-ftar's fultry beam ; 
 
 " And, ere fhe could conceal her naked charms, 
 
 " Sleep caught her trembling in his downy arms : 
 
 " Borne on the wings of Love, he flew, and prefs'd 
 
 " Her breathing bofom to his eager breaft, 
 
 " At his wild theft the rofy morning blufb'd, 
 
 " The rivulet fmil'd, and all the woods were hufh'd, 
 
 " Of thefe fair parents on this blifsful coaft 
 
 " (Parents like Mirth and Pleafure who can boaft ?) 
 
 11 I with five fillers, on one happy morn, 
 
 tc All fair alike, behold us now, were born. 
 
 " When they to brighter regions took their way, 
 
 " By Love invited to the realms of day, 
 
 " To us they gave this large, this gay domain, 
 
 tc And faid, departing, Here let Beauty reign. 
 
 " Then reign, fair prince, in thee all beauties fliine, 
 
 ?* And, ah ! we know thee of no mortal line." 
 
 She
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 4I 
 
 She faid; the king with rapid ardour glow'd, 
 And the fwift poifon through his bofom flow'd : 
 But while fhe fpoke he caft his eyes around 
 To view the dazzling roof, and fpangled ground ; 
 Then, turning with amaze from lidc to fide, 
 Seven golden doors, that richly fhone, he fpied, 
 And faid, " Fair nymph, (but let me not be bold) 
 *' What mean thofe doors that blaze with burnim'cl 
 
 gold ?" 
 
 fl To fix gay bowers, the maid replied, they lead, 
 t Where Spring eternal crowns the glowing mead; 
 " Six fountains there, that glitter as they play, 
 " Rife to the fun with many a colour'd ray." 
 " But the feventh door, faid he, what beauties grace !" 
 " O, 'tis a cave, a dark and joylefs place, 
 " A fcene of namelefs deeds, and magick fpells, 
 il Where day ne'er fhines, and pleafure never dwells ; 
 " Think not of that. But come, my royal friend, 
 *' And fee what joys thy favour'd fteps attend." 
 She fpoke, and pointed to the neareft door : 
 Swift he defcends ; the damfel flies before j 
 She turns the lock ; it opens at command ; 
 The maid and {tripling enter hand in hand. 
 
 The
 
 4 i THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 The wohdering youth beheld an opening glade, 
 Where in' the midft a cryftal fountain play'd * ; 
 The filver fands, that on its "bottom grew, 
 Were ftrown frith pearls and gems of varied hue; 
 The diamond fparkled like the flar of day, 
 And the foft topaz fhed a golden ray ; 
 Clear amethyfts combin'd their purple gleam 
 With the mild emerald's fight-refrefhing beam ; 
 The fapphire fmiPd like yon blue plain above, 
 And rubies fpread the blufhing tint of love. 
 
 Thefe are the waters of eternal light, 
 " The damfel faid, the ft ream of heavenly fight; 
 " See, in this cup ({he (poke, and floop'd to fill 
 ' A vafe of jafper with the facred rill), 
 *' See, how the living ^waters bound and fhine, 
 " Which, this well-polifh'd gem can fcarce confine !" 
 From her foft hand the lucid urn he took, 
 And quaff'd the ncftar with a tender look : 
 Straight from his eyes a cloud of darknefs flew, 
 And all the fcene was open'd to his view j 
 Not ail the groves, where ancient bards have told, 
 Of vegetable gems, and blooming gold; 
 Sight. 
 
 Not
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 43 
 
 Not all the bowers which oft in flowery lays 
 And folemn tales Arabian poets praife; 
 Though flreams of honey flow'd through every mead, 
 Though balm and amber dropp'd from every reed ; 
 Held half the fvveets that Nature's ample hand 
 Had pour'd luxuriant o'er this wondrous land. 
 All flowerets here their mingled rays diffufe, 
 The rainbow's tints to thefe were vulgar hues; 
 All birds that in the ftream their pinion dip, 
 Or from the brink the liquid cryftal fip, 
 Or mow their beauties to the funny Ikies, 
 Here wav'd their plumes that fhone with varying dyes; 
 But chiefly he, that o'er the verdant plain 
 Spreads the gay eyes which grace his fpangled train; 
 And he, who, proudly failing, loves to fhow 
 His mantling wings and neck of downy mow; 
 Nor abfent he, who learns the human found, 
 With wavy gold and moving emeralds crown'd ; 
 "Whofe head and breaft with polifh'd fapphires glow, 
 And on whofe wing the gems of Indus grow. 
 The monarch view'd tlreir beauties o'er and o'er, 
 He was all eye, and look'd from every pore. 
 But now the damfel caUs him from his trance; 
 o'er the lawn delighted they advance : 
 
 Thoy
 
 44. THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 They pafs the hall adorn'd with royal ftate, 
 And enter now with joy the fecond gate *. 
 
 A foothing found he heard, (but tafted firft 
 The gufhing flream that from the valley burft), 
 And in the fhade beheld a youthful quire 
 That touch'd with flying hands the trembling lyre: 
 Melodious notes, drawn out with magick art, 
 Caught with fweet extafy his ravifh'd heart ; 
 An hundred nymphs their charming defcants play'd, 
 And melting voices died along the glade ; 
 The tuneful flream that murmur'd as it rofe, 
 The birds that on the trees bevvail'd their woes, 
 The boughs, made vocal by the whifpering gale, 
 Join'd their foft ftrain, and warbled through the vale. 
 The concert ends : and now the {tripling hears 
 A tender voice that ftrikes his wondering ears ; 
 A beauteous bird, in our rude climes unknown, 
 That on a leafy arbour fits alone, 
 Strains his fweet throat, and waves his purple wings, 
 And thus in human accents foftly fmgs : 
 
 * Hearing. 
 
 i Rife,
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 45 
 
 " Rife, lovely pair, a fweeter bower invites 
 " Your eager fteps, a bower of new delights ; 
 " Ah ! crop the flowers of pleafure while they blow, 
 " Ere winter hides them in a veil of fnow. 
 " Youth, like a thin anemone, difplays 
 " His filken leaf, and in a morn decays. 
 " See, gentle youth, a lily-bofom'd bride ! 
 " See, nymph, a blooming {tripling by thy fide ! 
 ** Then hafte, and bathe your fouls in foft delights, 
 <( A fweeter bow'r your wandering fteps invites.'* 
 
 He ceas'd ; the (lender branch, from which he flew, 
 Bent its fair head, and fprinkled pearly dew. 
 The damfel fmil'd; the blufhing youth was pleas'd, 
 And by her willing hand his charmer feiz'd : 
 The lovely nymph, who figh'd for fweeter joy, 
 To the third gate * conduces the amorous boy ; 
 She turns the key ; her cheeks like rofes bloom, 
 And on the lock her fingers drop perfume. 
 
 His ravifh'd fenfe a fcene of pleafure meets, 
 A maze of joy, a paradife of fweet$i 
 
 * Smell. 
 
 Bat
 
 4 6 
 
 But firft his lips had touch'cl th' alluring ftream, 
 That through the grove difplay'd a filver gleam. 
 Through jafmine bowers, and violet-fcented vales, 
 On fiiken pinions flew the wanton gales, 
 Arabian odours on the plants they left, 
 And whifper'd to the woods their fpicy theft; 
 Beneath the fhrubs, that fpread a trembling fhade, 
 The mufky roes, and fragrant civets, play'd. 
 As when at eve an Eaftern merchant roves 
 From Hadramut to Aden's fpikenard groves, 
 Where fome rich caravan not long before 
 Has pafs'd, with caffia fraught, and balmy ftore, 
 CharmM with the fcent that hills and vales diffufe, 
 His grateful journey gayly he purfucs ; 
 Thus pleas'd, the monarch fed his eager foul, 
 And from each breeze a cloud of fragrance ftole : 
 Soon the fourth door * he pafs'd with eager hafte, 
 And the fourth Jftream was nedlar to his tafte. 
 
 Before his eyes, on agate columns rear'd, 
 On high a purple canopy appear'd; 
 And under it in {lately form was plac'd 
 A table with a thoufand vafes grac'cl ; 
 
 * Taftc. 
 
 Laden
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 47 
 
 Laden with all the dainties that are found 
 In air, in Teas, or on the fruitful ground. 
 Here the fair youth reclin'd with decent pride, 
 His wanton nymph was feated by his fide : 
 All that could pleafe the tafte the happy pair 
 Cull'd from the loaded board with curious care ; 
 O'er their enchanted heads a mantling vine 
 His curling tendrils wove with amorous twine; 
 From the green ftalks the glowing clufters hung 
 Like rubies on a thread of emeralds ftrung; 
 With thefe were other fruits of every hue, 
 The pale, the red, the golden, and the blue. 
 An hundred fmiling pages flood around, 
 Their mining brows with wreaths of myrtle bound : 
 They, in tranfparent cups of agate, bpre 
 Of fvveetly-fparkling wines a precious ftore ; 
 The ftripling fipp'cl and revel'd, till the fun 
 Down heaven's blue vault his daily courfe had run; 
 Then rofe, and, follovv'd by the gentle maid, 
 Op'd the fifth door * : a ftream before them 
 
 The king, impatient for the cooling draught, 
 In a full cup the myflic neftar quaffd ; 
 
 * Touch. 
 
 Then
 
 Then with a fmile (he knew no higher blifs) 
 From her fweet lip lie ftole a balmy kifs : 
 On the fmooth bank of violets they reclin'd ; 
 And, whilft a chaplet for his brow fhe twin'd, 
 With his foft cheek her fofter cheek he prefs'd, 
 His pliant arms were folded round her breaft. 
 She fmil'd, foft lightning darted from her eyes, 
 And from his fragrant feat Ihe bade him rife ; 
 Then, while a brighter blufh her face o'erfpread^ 
 To the fixth gate * her willing gueft fhe led. 
 
 The golden lock fhe foftly turn'd around ; 
 The moving hinges gave a pleafing found : 
 The boy delighted ran with eager hafte, 
 And to his lips the living fountain plac'd ; 
 The magick water pierc'd his kindled brain, 
 And a ftrange venom fhot from vein to vein* 
 Whatever charms he faw in other bowers, 
 Were here combined, fruits, muiick, odours, flowers ' t 
 A couch befides, with fofteft filk o'erlaid ; 
 And, fweeter ftill, a lovely yielding maid, 
 Who now more charming feem'd, and not fo coy, 
 And in her arms infolds the blufhing boy : 
 * The fenfual plcafares united. 
 
 They
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 49 
 
 They friort and wanton, till, with fleep opprefs'd, 
 Like two frefli rofe-bucls on one ftalk, they reft. 
 
 When morning fprcacl around her purple flame, 
 To the fweet couch the five fair filters came ; 
 They hail'ct the bridegroom with a cheerful voicej 
 And bade him make with fpeed a fecond choice. 
 Hard tafk to choofe, when all alike were fair ! 
 Now this, now that, engag'd his anxious care : 
 Then to the firft who fpoke his hand he lent * 
 The reft retir'd, and whifper'd as they went. 
 The prince enamour'd view'd his fecond bride ; 
 They left the bower, and wander'd fide by fide, 
 With her he charm'd his ears, with her his fight; 
 With her he pafs'd the day, with her the night. 
 Thus all by turns the fprightly ftranger led, 
 And all by turns partook his nuptial bed ; 
 Hours, days, and months, in pleafure flow'd away ; 
 All laugh'd, all fweetly fung, and all were gay. 
 
 So had he wanton'd threefcore days and feven, 
 More bleft, he thought, than any fon of heaven 2 
 Till on a morn, with fighs and ftreaming tears, 
 The train of nymphs before his bed appears ; 
 
 E And
 
 50 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 And thus the youngeft of the fitters fpeaks, 
 
 Whilft a fad fhowcr runs tricklino: down her checks : 
 
 o 
 
 " A cuftom which we cannot, dare not fail, 
 " (Such are the laws that in our ille prevail) 
 " Compels us, prince, to leave thee here alone, 
 " Till thrice the fun his rifing front has fhown : 
 " Our parents, whom, alas ! we muft obey, 
 " Expet us at a fplendid feaft to-day ; 
 " What Joy to us can all their fplendour give ? 
 " With thee, with only thee, we wifh to live. 
 " Yet may we hope, thefe gardens will afford 
 " Some pleating folace to our abfent lord ? 
 " Six golden keys, that ope yon blifsful gates, 
 " Where joy, eternal joy, thy fleps awaits, 
 " Accept: the feventh (but that you heard before) 
 ** Leads to a cave, where ravening monfters roar ; 
 <c A fullen, dire, inhofpitable cell, 
 <( Where d'cathful fpirits and magicians dwell. 
 tc Farewel, dear youth; how will our bofoms bura 
 " Few: the fvveet moment of our bleft return !" 
 
 The king, who wept, yet knew his tears were vain, 
 Took the feven keys, and kifs'd the parting train. 
 
 A gilt-
 
 SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 5 i 
 
 A glittering car, which bounding courfers drew, 
 They mounted ftraight, and through the foreft flew. 
 
 The yo'utfy unknowing how to pafs the day, 
 Ileview'd the bowers, and hear J the fountains play 5 
 By hands unfcen Whate'er he wifh'd was brought; 
 And pleafurcs rofe obedient to his thought. 
 Yet all the fweets, that ravifh'd him before, 
 Were tedious now, and charm'd his foul no more j 
 Lefs lovely ftill, and ftill lefs gay they grew ; 
 He figh'd, he wifh/d, and longM for fomething new : 
 Back to the hall he turn'd his weary feet, 
 And fat repining on his royal feat. 
 Now on the feventh bright gate he caffs his eye$ 
 And in his bofom rofe a bold furmife : 
 '* The nymph, faid he, was fare clifpos'd to jeft, 
 " Who talk'd of dungeons in a place fo bleft : 
 * l What harm to open, if it be a cell 
 " Where deathful fpirits and magicians dwell ? 
 " If dark or foul,' I need not pafs the door ; 
 c If new or ftrange, my foul defires no more." 
 He faid, and rofe ; then Wok the golden keys, 
 And op'd the door : the hinges mov'd with eafe; 
 
 E 3 *efor
 
 5 2 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 Before his eyes appear' I a fullen gloom, 
 Thick, hideous, wild ; a cavern, or a tomb. 
 Yet as he longer gaz'd, he faw afar 
 A light that fparkled like a fhooting ftar. 
 He paus'd : at lail, by fome kind angel led, 
 He enter'd, and advanc'd with cautious tread. 
 Still as he walk'd, the light appear'd more clear ; 
 Hope footh'd him then, and fcarcely left a fear. 
 At length an aged fire furpriz'd he faw, 
 Who fill'd his bofom with a facred awe * : 
 A book he held, which, as reclin'd he lay, 
 He read, affifted by a taper's ray ; 
 His beard, more white than fnow on winter's breaft, 
 Hung to the zone that bound his fable veft ; 
 A pleating calmnefs on his brow was feen, 
 Mild was his look, majeftick was his mien. 
 Soon as the youth approach'd the reverend fage, 
 He rais'd his head, and clos'd the ferious page ; 
 Then fpoke : " O fon, what chance has turn'd thy fecj 
 " To this dull folitude, and lone retreat ?" 
 To whom the youth : " Firft, holy father, tell, 
 " What force detains thee in this gloomy cell ? 
 
 * Religion.
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. S3 
 
 t( This ifle, this palace, and thofe balmy bowers, 
 
 " Where fix fweet fountains fall on living flowers, 
 
 " Are mine ; a train of damfels chofe me king, 
 
 " And through my kingdom fmiles perpetual fpring. 
 
 " For fome important caufe to me unknown, 
 
 " This day they left me joylefs and alone ; 
 
 " But, ere three morns with rofes ftrow the ikies, 
 
 *< My lovely brides will charm my longing eyes." 
 
 " Youth, faid the fire, on this aufpicious day 
 (< Some angel hither led thy erring way : 
 " Hear a ftrange tale, and tremble at the fnare, 
 " Which for thy fteps thy pleafing foes prepare. 
 " Know, in this ifle prevails a bloody law ; 
 ^ Lift, {tripling, lift ! (the youth flood fix'd with awe:) 
 * { * But feventy days the haplefs monarchs reign, 
 " Then clofe their lives in exile and in pain ; 
 " Doom'd in a deep and frightful cave to rove, 
 " Where darknefs hovers o'er the iron grove. 
 " Yet know, thy prudence and thy timely care 
 " May fave thee, fon, from this deftru&ive mare. 
 *' f Not far from this a lovelier ifland lies, 
 " Too rich, too fpkndid, for unhallow'd eyes: 
 
 * The life of man. f Heaven. 
 
 3 " On
 
 54 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 < { On that bleft more a fweeter fountain flows 
 
 '* Than this vain clime, or this gay palace knows, 
 
 ." Which if thou tafte, whatever was fweet before 
 
 " Will bitter feem, and fteal thy foul no more. 
 
 ." But, ere thefe happy waters thou canft reach, 
 
 " Thy weary fteps muft pafs yon rugged beech, 
 
 * Where the dark fea vyith angry billows raves, 
 
 <( And, fraught with monfters, curls his howling waves} 
 
 " If to my words obedient thou attend, 
 
 ti Behold in me thy pilot and thy friend. 
 
 " A bark I keep, fupplied with plenteous {lore, 
 
 ** That now lies anchored on the rocky fhore 
 
 " And, when of all thy regal toys bereft, 
 
 <c In the rude cave an exile thou art left, 
 
 " Myfelf will find thee on the gloomy lea, 
 
 " And waft thee fafely o'er the dangerous fea.' ? 
 
 The boy was fillM with wonder as he fpake, 
 And from a dream of folly feem'd to wake : 
 All day the fage his tainted thoughts refin'd ; 
 His reafon brighten'd, and reform'd his mind : 
 Through the dim cavern hand in hand they walk'd. 
 And much of truth, and much of heaven, they talk'd. 
 
 f Death. 
 
 At
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 At night the {tripling to the hall return'd ; 
 With other fires his alter'd bofom burnM. 
 O ! to his wifer loul how low, how mean, 
 Seetn'd all he e'er had heard, had felt, had feen ! 
 He view'd the ftars, he view'd the cryftal Ikies, 
 And blefs'd the power all-good, all-great, all-wife 
 How lowly now appear'd the purple robe, 
 The rubied fceptre, and the ivory globe ! 
 How dim the rays that gild the brittle earth ! 
 How vile the brood of Folly, and of Mirth ! 
 
 When the third morning, clad in mantle gray, 
 Brought in her rofy car the feventieth day, 
 A band of flaves, who rufh'd with furious found, 
 Jn chains of fteel the willing captive bound ; 
 From his young head the diadem they tore, 
 And caft his pearly bracelets on the floor ; 
 They rent his robe that bore the rofe's hue, 
 And o'er his breaft a hairy mantle threw; 
 Then dragg'd him to the damp and dreary cave, 
 Drench'd by the gloomy fea's refounding wave. 
 Meanwhile the voices of a numerous croud 
 Pierc'd the dun air, as thunder breaks a cloud : 
 
 The
 
 56 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 The nymphs another haplefs youth had found, 
 And then were leading o'er the guilty ground : 
 They hail'd him king (alas, how fhort his reign !} 
 And with frefh chaplets ftrcw'd the fatal plain. 
 
 The happy exile, monarch now no more ? 
 Was roving ilowly o'er the lonely fhore ; 
 At laft the fire's expected voice he knew, 
 And tow'rd the found with hafty rapture flew. 
 The promis'd pinnace juft afloat he found. 
 And the glad fage his fetter'd hands unbound ; 
 But when he faw the foaming billows rave, 
 And dragons rolling o'er the fiery wave, 
 He ftopp'd : his guardian caught his lingering hand,, 
 And gently led him o'er the rocky ftrand ; 
 Soon as he touch'cl the bark, the ocean fmil'd, 
 The dragons yanifh'd, and the waves were mild. 
 
 Fqr many an hour with vigorous arms they row'd, 
 While not a ftar one friendly fparkle fhow'd ; 
 At length a glimmering brightnefs they behold, 
 Like a thin cloud which morning dyes with gold : 
 To that they fteer ; and now, rejoic'd, they vievy 
 
 A fhore begirt with cliffs of radiant hue. 
 
 The
 
 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 57 
 
 They land : a train, in fliining mantles clad, 
 Hail their approach, and bid the youth be glad ; 
 They led him o'er the lea with eafy pace, 
 And floated as they went with heavenly grace. 
 A golden fountain foon appear'd in fight, 
 That o'er the border call a funny light. 
 
 The fage, impatient, fcoop'd the lucid wave 
 In a rich vafe, which to the youth he gave ; 
 He drank : and ftraight a bright celeftial beam 
 Before his eyes difplay'd a dazzling gleam ; 
 Myriads of airy fhapes around him gaz'd j 
 Some prais'd his wifdom, fome his courage prais'd ; 
 Then o'er his limbs a ftarry robe they fpread, 
 And plac'd a crown of diamonds on his head. 
 
 His aged guide was gone, and in his place 
 Stood a fair cherub flufh'd with rofy grace; 
 Who, fmiling, fpake: " Here ever wilt thou reft, 
 *' Admir'd, belov'd, our brother and our gueft ; 
 (t So all mail end, whom vice can charm no more 
 " With the gay follies of that perilous fhore. 
 " See yon immortal towers their gates unfold, 
 ** With rubies flaming, and no earthly gold ! 
 
 < There
 
 5 8 THE SEVEN FOUNTAINS. 
 
 et There joys, before unknown, thy fteps invite ; 
 " Blifs without care, and morn without a night. 
 " But now farewel ! my duty calls me hence ; 
 " Some injur'd mortal afks my juft defence. 
 " To yon pernicious ifland I repair, 
 " Swift as a flar." He fpeaks, and melts in air. 
 
 The youth o'er walks of jafper takes his flight j 
 And bounds and blazes in eternal light. 
 
 A PER-
 
 [ 59 
 
 A PERSIAN SONG 
 
 OF H A F I Z. 
 
 W E E T maid, if thou would'ft charm my fight, 
 And bid thefe arms thy neck infold ; 
 
 That rofy cheek, that lily hand, 
 
 Would give thy poet more delight 
 
 Than all Bocara's vaunted gold, 
 
 Than all the gems of Samarcand. 
 
 G A Z E L. 
 
 EGHER an Turki Shirazi -f) r 
 
 Bedcft ared dili mnra, 
 Be khali hinduilh bakhfliem 
 
 Samarcand u Bckharara,
 
 60 APERSIANSONG. 
 
 Boy, let yon liquid ruby flow, 
 And bid thy penfive heart be glad, 
 Whate'er the frowning zealots fay : 
 Tell them, their Eden cannot fhow 
 A ftream fo clear as Rocnabad, 
 A bower fo fweet as Mofellay. 
 
 O ! when thefe fair perfidious maids, 
 Whofe eyes our fecret haunts infeft, 
 Their dear deflru&ive charms difplay ; 
 Each glance my tender breaft invades, 
 And robs my wounded foul of reft, 
 As Tartars feize their deftin'd prey, 
 
 Bedeh, faki, mei baki, 
 
 Ke der jennet nekhahi yaft 
 Kunari abi Rocnabad, 
 
 Ve gulgefhti Mofellara. 
 
 Fugan kein luliani fliokh 
 
 I fhiringari fhehraftiob 
 Chunan berdendi fabr az dil 
 
 Ke Turcan khani yagmara. 
 
 In
 
 A PERSIAN SONG. 61 
 
 In vain with love our bofoms glow : 
 Can all our tears, can all our fighs, 
 New luftre to thofe charms impart ? 
 Can cheeks, where living rofes blow, 
 Where nature fpreads her richeft dyes, 
 Require the borrow'd glofs of art ? 
 
 Speak not of fate : ah ! change the theme, 
 
 And talk of odours, talk of wine, 
 
 Talk of the flowers that round us bloom : 
 
 Tis all a cloud, 'tis all a dream ; 
 
 To love and joy thy thoughts confine, 
 
 Nor hope to pierce the facred gloom. 
 
 Ze efliki na temarai ma 
 
 Jamali yari muftagnift ; 
 Be ab u reng u khal u khatt 
 
 Che hajet ruyi zibara. 
 
 Hadis az mutreb u mei git, 
 
 Va razi dehri kemter ju, 
 Ke kes nekfliud u nekfhaied 
 
 Be hikmet ein moammara, 
 
 Beauty
 
 62 A PERSIAN SONG, 
 
 Beauty has fuch refiftlefs power, 
 That even the chafte Egyptian dame 
 Sigh'd for the blooming Hebrew boy $ 
 For her how fatal was the hour, 
 When to the banks of Nilus came 
 A youth fo lovely and fo coy ! 
 
 But ah ! fweet maid, my counfel hear* 
 (Youth fhould attend when thofe advifc 
 Whom long experience renders fage) : 
 While mufick charms the ravifli'd ear; 
 While fparkling cups delight our eyes, 
 Be gay ; and fcorn the frowns of age. 
 
 Men az an hufni ruzafzun 
 
 Ke Yufuf dafliti daneftem 
 Ke efhk az perdei ifmet 
 
 Berun ared Zuleikhara* 
 
 Nafihet golhi kun jana, 
 
 Ke az jan doftiter darend 
 Juvanani faadetmend 
 
 I pendi peeri danara. 
 
 What
 
 A PERSIAN SONG. 63 
 
 What cruel anfwer have I heard ! 
 And yet, by heaven, I love thee ftill ; 
 Can aught be cruel from thy lip ? 
 Yet fay, how fell that bitter word 
 From lips which ftreams of fweetnefs fill, 
 Which nought but drops of honey lip ? 
 
 Go boldly forth, my fimple lay, 
 
 Whofe accents flow with artlefs eafe, 
 
 Like orient pearls at random ftrung : 
 
 Thy notes are fweet, the damfels fay ; 
 
 But O ! far fweeter, if they pleafe 
 
 The nymph for whom thefe notes are fung, 
 
 Bedem gufti, va khurfendam, 
 
 Afac alia, neku gufti, 
 Jawabi telkhi mizeibed 
 
 Lebi lali flicker khara. 
 
 Gazel gufti vedurr fufti, 
 
 Bea vakhofh bukhaa Hafiz, 
 Ke ber nazmi to afihancd 
 
 Felek ikdi furiara. 
 
 A N
 
 t 65 
 
 A N 
 
 ODE OF PETRARCH, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 FOUNTAIN OF VALCHIUSA. 
 
 YE clear and fparkling ftreams, 
 Warm'd by the funny beams,^ 
 Through whofe tranfparent cryftal Laura play'd j 
 Ye boughs, that deck the grove, 
 Where Spring her chaplets wove, 
 While Laura lay beneath the quivering fhade ; 
 
 Canzone 27. 
 
 Chiare, frefche, e dolci acque, 
 Ove le belle membra 
 pofe colei, che fob a me par donna; 
 Gentil ramoj ove piacque 
 (Con fofpir mi rimembra) 
 A lei di fare al bel fianco colonna ; 
 
 * M. dc Voltaire has given us a beautiful paraphrafe of this firft 
 ftanza, though it is certain that he had never read the ode in the ori- 
 
 giiwl,
 
 66 ANODE 
 
 Sweet herbs, and blufhing flowers, ' 
 That crown yon vernal bowers 
 
 For ever fatal, yet for ever dear ; 
 And ye, that heard my iighs 
 When firft fhe charm'd my eyes, 
 
 Soft- breathing gales, my dying accents hear. 
 
 Erba, e fior', die la gonna 
 
 Leggiadra ricoverfe 
 
 Coir angelico feno ; 
 
 Aer facro fereno 
 
 Ov' Amor co' begli occhi 11 cor m* aperfe; 
 
 Date udleiiza infieme 
 
 AHe dolenti mie parole eflreme. 
 
 ginal, or at moft only the three firft lines of it ; fot he alTerts that the 
 Italian fong is irregular, and without rhymes ; whereas the ftanzas 
 are perfectly regular, and the rhymes very exah His tlefign was to 
 give Madame du Chatelet, for whom he wrote his hiftory, an wlea 
 of Petrarch's ftyle ; but, if (he had only read his imitation, fhe could 
 have but an imperfect notion of the Italian, which the reader will 
 cafily perceive by comparing them. 
 
 If
 
 OF P E t R A R C H. 67 
 
 If heaven has fix'cl my doom, 
 
 That Love muft quite confume 
 My burfting heart, and clofe my eyes in death; 
 
 Ah ! grant this flight requeft, 
 
 That here my tirn may reft 
 Wherrto its manfion flies my vital breattii 
 
 This pleafing hope will fmootli 
 
 My anxious mind, and footh 
 The pangs of that inevitable hour j 
 
 My fpirit will not grieve 
 
 Her mortal veil to leave 
 In thefe calm fhades, and this enchanting bower. 
 
 S' egli e pur mio deftino, 
 
 E'l cielo in cio s' adopra, 
 
 Ch' amor quefli occhi lagrimando chiudii,- 
 
 Q^ialche grazia il mefehino 
 
 Gorpo fra voi ricopra ; 
 
 E torni 1' alma al proprio albergo tgtuids : 
 
 La morte fia men cruda,- 
 
 Se quefta fpeme porto 
 
 A quel dubbiofo paiTo j 
 
 Che lo fpirito laflb 
 
 Non poria mai in piu ripofeto porttf 
 
 N'cn piu tranquilla fofla 
 
 Fuggir la carnc twagliata, e 1* o(Ta'. 
 
 F 2 &ap!y
 
 68 ANODE 
 
 Haply the guilty maid 
 
 Through yon accuftom'd glade 
 To my fad tomb will take her lonely way; 
 
 Where firft her beauty's light 
 
 O'erpower'd my dazzled fight, 
 When Love on this fair border bade me flray 5 
 
 There forrowing fhall flie fee,, 
 
 Beneath an aged tree, 
 Her true but haplefs Jover's lowly bier ; 
 
 Too late her tender fighs 
 
 Shall melt the pitying ikies, 
 And her foft veil fhall hide the gufhing tear. 
 
 Tempo verra ancor forfe 
 
 Ch' all' ufato foggiorno 
 
 Torni la fera bella e manfueta 3 
 
 E la, ov' ella mi fcorfe 
 
 Nel benedetto giorno 
 
 Volga la vifta defiofa e lieta,. 
 
 Cercandomi, ed, o pieta, 
 
 Gia terra infra le pietre 
 
 Vedendo, Amor 1'infpiri 
 
 In^uifa che fofpiri 
 
 Si dolcemente che merce m' impetre, 
 
 E faccia forza al cielo 
 
 Afciugandofi gli occhi col bel velo.
 
 O F P E T R A R C H. 69 
 
 O ! well-remember'd day, 
 
 When on yon bank fhe lay, 
 Meek in her pride, and in her rigour mild ; 
 
 The young and blooming flowers, 
 
 Falling in fragrant fhowers, 
 Shone on her heck, and on her bofom ftnil'd : 
 
 Soine on he-r mantle hung, 
 
 Some in her lopks were ftrung, 
 Like orient gerns in rings of flaming gold ; 
 
 Some, in a Ipicy cloud 
 
 Descending, call'd aloud, 
 *' Here Love and Youth the reins of empire hold.** 
 
 Pa' bei rami fcendea 
 
 Dolce nella rpeit)oria 
 
 Una pioggia di fior fovra '1 fuo grembo ; 
 
 Ed ella fi fedea, 
 
 flumile in tanta gloria 
 
 Coverta gia dell' amorofo nerabo : 
 
 Qual fior cadea ful lembo, 
 
 Qual fulle treccie bionde, 
 
 Ch' oro fqrbito e perle 
 
 Eran. quel di a vederle, 
 
 Qual fi pofava in terra, e qual full' onde ; 
 
 Qual con un vagp errore 
 
 CJinmdo parea dir, " Qui regna Amore." 
 
 F 3 I view'd
 
 .70 ANODE 
 
 I vievv'd the heavenly maid ; 
 
 And, rapt in wonder, faid 
 *' The groves of Eden gave this angel birth ;" 
 _ Jier look, her voice, her fmile, 
 
 That might all heaven beguile, 
 Wafted my foul above the realms of earth : 
 
 The ftar-befpangled Ikies 
 
 Were open'd to my eyes ; 
 Sighing I faid, " Whence rofe this glittering fcene ?" 
 
 Since that aufpicious hour, 
 
 This bank, and odorous bower, 
 My morning couch, and evening haunt, have been. 
 
 Quante volte difs'io 
 
 Allor pien di fpaventp 
 
 ?' Coftei per fermo nacque in paradifo," 
 
 ofi carco d' oblio 
 
 II divin portamento 
 
 E'l volto, e !e parole, e'l riolce fifq 
 
 M* aveano, e fi divifo 
 
 Dall' imagine vera, 
 
 Ch' i' dicea fofpirando, 
 
 *' Qi}i come venn' io, o quando r" 
 
 Credendo efler' in ciel, non la dov' era. 
 
 Pa indi in qua mi piace 
 
 Queita erba fi ch' altrove non o pace. 
 
 Well
 
 OFPETRARCH. 71 
 
 Well mayft tliou blufh, my fong, 
 
 To leave the rural throng, 
 And fly thus artlefs to my Laura's ear 5 
 
 But, were thy poet's fire 
 
 Ardent as his defire, 
 Thou wert a fong that heaven might {loop to hear. 
 
 Se tu aveffi ornament! quant' ai voglia, 
 
 PotreiH arditamente 
 
 Ufcir del bofco, e gir' infra la gente.
 
 I 73 3 
 
 M. DE VOLTAIRE'S PARAPHRASE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST STANZA, 
 
 Chiare, frefche, e dolci acqne &c. 
 
 f~^ L A I R E Fontaine, oncle aimable, onde pure, 
 
 Ou la beaute qui confume mon coeur, 
 Seule beaute, qui foit dans la nature, 
 Pes feux du jour evite la chaleur ; 
 
 Arbre heureax, dont le feuillage 
 
 Agite par les Zephirs 
 
 La couvris de fon ombrage, 
 
 Qui rappelles mes foupirs, 
 
 En rappellant fon image, 
 
 Ornemcnj
 
 74- PARAPHRASE. 
 
 Ornemcns de ces bords, et filles du matin, 
 Vous dont jc fuis jaloux, vous moins brillantes qu'Elle, 
 Fleurs, qu'elle embelliflait, quand voustouchiez fon fein, 
 Roflignols, dont la voix eft moins douce et moins belle, 
 Air devenu plus pur, adorable fejour, 
 
 Immortalife par fes charmes, 
 Lieux dangereux et chers, ou dc fes tendres armes 
 
 L'amour a bleffc tous mes fens, 
 
 Ecoutez mes derniers accens, 
 
 Recevez mes dernieres larmes.
 
 AURA, 
 
 *T N this fair feafon, when the whifpering gales 
 
 Drop fhowers of fragrance o'er the bloomy vales, 
 From bower to bovver the vernal warblers play; 
 The Ikies are cloudlefs, and the meads are gay ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. i. Petrarch. Sonnet, 270. 
 efiro torna, e'l bel tempo rimena, 
 
 E' i fiori, e 1' erbe, fua dolce famiglra ; 
 E garrir Progne, e pianger Filomela; 
 E primavera Candida, e vermiglia : 
 
 Ridono
 
 76 LAURA, 
 
 The nightingale in many a melting flrain 
 
 Sings to the groves, Ci Here Mirth and Beauty reign, 
 
 Hut me, for ever bath'cl in gufhing tears, 
 
 No mirth enlivens, and no beauty cheers : 
 
 The birds that warble, and the flowers that bloom, 
 
 Relieve no more this folirary gloom. 
 
 I fee, where late the verdant meadow fmil'd, 
 
 A joylefs delert, and a dreary wild. 
 
 For thofe dear eyes, that pierc'd my heart before, 
 
 Are clos'd in death, and charm the world no more ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Jlidono 1 prati, e'l del fi rafferena; 
 
 Giove s'allegra di irtirar fua figlia ; 
 
 L'aria, e I'acque, e la terra e d'anior plena j 
 
 Ogni animal d'amar fi riconfiglia : 
 
 Ma per me, laflb, tornano i piu gravi 
 Sofpiri, che del cor protando tragge 
 Qjjella ch' al ciel fe ne porto le chiavi : 
 
 E canrar' augelletti, e fiorir piagge, 
 E'n belle donne onefte atti foavi, 
 Sono un deferto, e fere afpre e felvagge. 
 
 Loft
 
 LAURA. 77 
 
 Loft are thofe treffes, that outfhone the morn, 
 And pale thofe cheeks, that might the ikies adorn. 
 * Ah, death ! thy hand has cropp'd the fairefl flower, 
 That flied its ftniling rays in beauty's bower j 
 Thy dart has lay'd on yonder fable bier 
 All my foul lov'd, and all the world held dear; 
 Celeftial fvvectnefs, love-infpiring youth, 
 Soft-ey'd benevolence, and whife-rob'd truth. 
 
 f Hard fate of man, on whom the heavens beftow 
 A drop of pleafure for a fea of woe ! 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 17. Sonnet. 243. 
 Difcolorato ai, morte, il piu bel volto 
 
 Che mai fi vede, e'i plu begli oechi fpenti ; 
 
 Spirto piu accefo di virtuti ardenti 
 
 Del piu leggiadro, e piu bel node ai fciolto ! 
 
 f Ver. 28. Sonnet, 230. 
 O noflra vita, ch'e fi bella in villa ! 
 
 Com' perde agevolmcnte in uu' mattina 
 
 che'a raolt* anni a gran pena s' acquifla, 
 
 Ah,
 
 ;8 LAURA. 
 
 Ah, life of care, in fears or hopes confum'd, 
 Vain hopes, that wither ere they well have bloom'd! 
 How oft, emerging from the fhades of night, 
 Laughs the gay morn, and fpreads a purple light 
 But foon the gathering clouds o'erfhade the fkies, 
 Red lightnings play, and thundering ftorms arife ! 
 How oft a day, that fair and mild appears, 
 Grows dark with fate, and mars the toil of years ! 
 
 * Not far remov'd, yet hid from diftant eyes, 
 
 Low in her fecret grot a Naiad lies. 
 
 . % 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 33. See a defcription of this celebrated fountain in a 
 
 poem of Madame Deflioulieres. 
 E litre de hauts rochers, dont 1'afpeft ell terrible, 
 DCS pres toujours fleuris, des arbres toujours verds, 
 
 Une fource orgueilleufe et pure, 
 
 Dont P eau fur cent rochers divers 
 
 D' une moufle verte couverts, 
 
 S' epanche, boui'llonne, et munnure ; 
 Des agneaux bondiflans fur la tendre verdure, 
 Et de leurs condu&eurs les ruftiques concerts, &c 
 
 Steep
 
 LAURA. 79 
 
 Steep arching rocks, with verdant mofs o'ergrown, 
 Form her rude diadem, and native throne : 
 There in a gloomy cave her waters fleep, 
 Clear as a brook, but as an ocean deep. 
 Yet, when the waking flowers of April blow, 
 And warmer funbeams melt the gather'd fnow ; 
 Rich with the tribute of the vernal rains, 
 The nymph, exulting, burfts her filver chains ; 
 Her living waves in fparkling columns rife, 
 And fhine like rainbows to the funny fkies ; 
 From cliff to cliff the falling waters roar; 
 Then die in murmurs, and are heard no more. 
 Hence, foftly flowing in a dimpled ftream, 
 The cryflal Sorga fpreads a lively gleam ; 
 From which a thoufand rills in mazes glide, 
 And deck the banks with fummer's gayeft pride; 
 Brighten the verdure of the milling plains, 
 And crown the labour of the joyful fwains. 
 
 Firft on thefe banks (ah, dream of fhort delight !) 
 The charms of Laura {truck my dazzled fight ; 
 Charms, that the bills of Eden might reftore, 
 That heaven might envy, and mankind adore. 
 
 I faw
 
 8o LAURA; 
 
 J f a w and O ! what heart could long rebel 
 
 I faw, I lov'd, and bade the world farewel. 
 
 Where'er file inov'dj the meads were frefli and gajj 
 
 And every bower exhal'd the fweets of May ; 
 
 Smooth flow'd the ftreams, and foftty blew the gale 5 
 
 The rifing flowers impurpled every dale; 
 
 Calm was the ocean, and the fky fererie j 
 
 An universal fmile o'erfpread the (hining fcene : 
 
 But when in death's cold arms entranc'd fhe lay, 
 
 (* Ah, ever dear, yet ever fatal day !) 
 
 O'er all the air a direful gloom was fpread ; 
 
 Pale were the meads, and all their bloffbms dead j 
 
 The clouds of April fhed a baleful dew, 
 
 All nature wore a veil of deadly hue. 
 
 Go, plaintive breeze^ to Lauru's fkrtveiy bier, 
 Heave the warm figh, and fhed the tender tear.- 
 There to the awful fhacle due homage pay, 
 And foftly thus addrefs the facred clay : 
 
 * Laura vyas firft feen by Petrarch on the fixth of April in the 
 year 1327 ; and (he dktl on the fame day in 1348; 
 
 Say
 
 LAURA. 8r 
 
 * * Say, envied earth, that doft thofe charms infold^ 
 " Where are thofe cheeks, and where thofe locks of gold? 
 " Where are thofe eyes, which oft the Mufe has fung ? 
 " Where thofe fweet lips, and that enchanting tongue ? 
 ** Ye radiant trefles, and thou, rie&ar'd (mile; 
 *' Ye looks that might the melting fk.ies beguile j 
 " You robb'd my foul of reft, my eyes of fleep ; 
 <c You taught me how to love, and how to weep.'* 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Vei*. 75. Sonnet. 260; 
 
 Quanta invidia ti porto, avara terra, 
 
 Ch' abbracci quella, cui veder m' e tolt<y. 
 
 And Sonnet. 259. 
 
 dv* e la fronte, che con picciol cenno 
 
 Volgea T mio core in quefta parte, e'n quella ? 
 Ov' e '1 bel ciglio, e 1' una e 1' altra ftella, 
 Ch' al corfo del mio vivcr lume denno ? &Ci
 
 82 LAURA. 
 
 * No fhrub overhangs the dew-befpangled vale, 
 No blofibm trembles to the dying gale, 
 No floweret blufhes in the morning fays, 
 No ftream along the winding valley plays, 
 But knows what anguifh thrills my torturM breaft, 
 What pains confume me, and what cares infeft. 
 * At blufh of dawn, and in the gloom of night, 
 Her pale-eyed phantom fwims before my fight, 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 83. Sonnet. 248. 
 Non e fterpe, ne fafib in quefti monti, 
 
 Non ramo o fronda verde in quefte piagge ; 
 
 Non fior' in quefte.valli, o foglia d'erba; 
 Stilla d' acque non'ven di queftc fontt, 
 
 Ne fiere an queili bofchi fi felvagge, 
 
 Che non fappian quant' e mia pena aceiba. 
 
 f Ver. 89. Sonnet. 241. 
 Or' in forma di ninfa, o d' altra diva, 
 
 Che del piu chkro fondo di Sorga efca, 
 
 E pongafi a feder' in fu la riva : 
 Or' I* o veduta fu per 1'erba frefca 
 
 Calcar' i fior, com' Una donna viva, 
 
 JUofuando in villa, che di me le'ncrefca. 
 
 Sits
 
 LAURA. 83 
 
 Sits on the border of each purling rill, 
 
 Crowns every bovver, and glides o'er every hill. 
 
 * Flows the loud rivulet down the mountain's brow? 
 
 Or pants the Zephyr on the waving bough ? 
 
 Or fips the labouring bee her balmy dews, 
 
 And with foft {trains her fragrant toil purfues ? 
 
 Or warbles from yon iilver-bloffomM thorn 
 
 The wakeful bird, that hails the rifing morn ? 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 93. Sonnet. 239, 
 Se lamentar* augelli, o verdi fronde 
 
 Mover foavementc all' aura eftiva, 
 
 O roco mormorar di lucid' ondo 
 
 S'ode d'una fiorita e frefca riva, 
 La v* io feggia d* amor penfofo, e fchriva; 
 
 Lei che'l ciel ne tnortro, terra nafconde, 
 
 Veggio, ed odo, ed intendo, ch' ancor vivji 
 
 Di fi lontano a* fofpir miei rifponde. 
 Peli ! perche innanzi tempo ti confume ? 
 
 Mi dice con pietate, a che pur verft 
 
 Dagli occhi triili un dolorofo fiume? 
 Di me non pianger tu ; che miei di ferfi, 
 
 Morendo, eterni, e nell' eterno lume, 
 
 Quando moftfai di chiudcr gl' ocelli, apcrfi. 
 
 G 2 My
 
 84 LAURA. 
 
 My Laura's voice in many a Toothing note 
 Floats through the yielding air, or feems to float: 
 
 <{ Why fill thy %hs, flie fays, this lonely bower ? 
 i 
 " Why down thy bofom flows this endlefs fhower? 
 
 " Complain no more ; but hope ere long to meet 
 
 " Thy mucli-lov'd Laura in a happier feat. 
 
 " Here fairer fcenes detain my parted fbadej 
 
 " Suns that ne'er fet, and flowers that never fade : 
 
 " Through cryftal ikies I wing my joyous flight, 
 
 " And revel in eternal blaze of light; 
 
 '* See all thy wanderings in that vale of tears, 
 
 " And fmile at all thy hopes, at all thy. fears : 
 
 " Death wak'd my foul, that flept in life before, 
 
 ** And op'd tliefe brightened eyes, to fleep no more." 
 
 She ends : the fates, that will no more reveal, 
 Fix on her fclofing lips their facred feal. 
 *' Return, fweet fhade ! I wake, and fondly fay, 
 " O, cheer my gloom with one far-beaming ray ! 
 " Return : thy charms my forrow will difpel, 
 " And match my fpirit from her mortal cell ; 
 ' Then, mix'd with thine, exulting flie (hall fly, 
 " And bound enra^ tur'd through her native Iky," 
 
 She
 
 LAURA. 85 
 
 She comes no more : my pangs more fierce return ; 
 
 Tears gufli in ftreams, and lighs my bofom burn. 
 
 * Ye banks, that oft my weary limbs have born; 
 
 Ye murmuring brooks, that learnt of me to mourn ; 
 
 Ye birds, that tune with me your plaintive lay ; 
 
 Ye groves, where Love once taught my flepsto flray; 
 
 You, ever fweet and ever fair, renew 
 
 Your (trains melodious, and your blooming hue ; 
 
 But not in my fad heart can blifs remain, 
 
 My heart, the haunt of never-ceafing pain ! 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Vcr. 123. Sonnet. 261. 
 Valle, che de' lament! miei fe' plena; 
 
 Fiume, che fpeflb del mio pi anger crefci ; 
 
 Fere felveftre, vaghi augelli, e pefci, 
 
 Che 1* una, e 1* altra verde riva affrena; 
 Aria de' miei fofpir' calda e ferena; 
 
 Dolce fentier, che fi amaro riefci; 
 
 Colle, che mi piacefti, or mi rincrefci ; 
 
 Ov' ancor per ufanza Amor mi mena; 
 Ben riconofco in voi 1'ufate forme, 
 
 Non, laflb, in me, che da fi lieta vifta, 
 
 Son fatto albergo d'infinita doglia. 
 
 G 3 Hence-
 
 86 LAURA. 
 
 
 
 Henceforth, to ling in fmootlily-warbled lays 
 The (miles of youth, and beauty's heavenly rays ; 
 * To fee the morn her early charms unfold, 
 Her cheeks of rofes, and her curls of gold ; 
 f Led by the facred Mufe at noon to rove 
 O'er tufted mountain, vale, or lhady grove ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 133. Sonnet. 251. 
 
 Quand' io veggio dal ciel fcender 1'Aurora, 
 Con la fronte di rofe, e co' crin d' oro. 
 
 f Ver. 135. Sonnet. 273. 
 N.e per fereno ciel ir vaghe dellej 
 
 Ne per tranquillo mar legni fpalmati ; 
 
 Ne per campagne cavalieri armati ; 
 
 Ne per bei bofchi allegre fere e fnellc j 
 Ne d' afpettato ben frefche novelle, 
 
 Ne dir d'Amore in flili alti ed ornati; 
 
 Ne tra chiare fpnrane, e verdi prati 
 
 Dolce cantare onelte donne e belle j 
 Ne altro fara mai ch'al cor m' aggiunga, 
 
 Si feco il feppe quella fepellite, 
 
 Qhe fola a gli occhi miei fu lume e fpeglio. 
 
 To
 
 LAURA. 87 
 
 To watch the ftars, that gild the lucid pole, 
 And view yon orbs in mazy order roll; 
 To hear the tender nightingale complain, 
 And warble to the woods her amorous ftrain ; 
 No more fhall thefe my penfive foul delight, 
 But each gay vifion melts in endlefs night. 
 * Nymphs, who in glimmering glades by moonlight 
 
 dance, 
 
 And ye, who through the liquid cryftal glance, 
 Who oft have heard my fadly-plealing moan ; 
 Behold me now a lifelefs marble grown. 
 Ah ! lead me to the tomb where Laura lies ; 
 Clouds, fold me round ; and, gather'd darknefs, rife ; 
 
 Bear me, ye gales, in death's foft flumber lay'd ; 
 And, ye bright realms, receive my fleeting made ! 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ver. 143. Sonnet. 263. 
 O vaghi abitator de' verdi bofchi, 
 
 O Ninfe, e voi, che'l frefco erbofo fondo 
 Del liquido criflallo alberga e pafce. 
 
 A T U R-
 
 C 88 ] 
 
 TURKISH ODE 
 
 HEAR how the nightingales, on every fpray, 
 Hail in wild notes the fweet return of May ! 
 The gale, that o'er yon waving almond blows, 
 The verdant bank with lilver blofibms ftrows : 
 The fmiling feafon decks each flowery glade. 
 J3e gay : too foqn tjie flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 INLEH bulbul kiflh fen kirn gildi eiami behar, 
 urdi her bir baghda hengamei hengami behar, 
 Oldi fim afflian ana ezhari badami behar 
 Yfh u nufh it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Thoit bear eft tie tale of //;f nightingale, ** that the vernal Jcafon 
 ^ approaches? The Spring has ffrrcad a bovver of joy in. every grove , 
 where the almond-tree Jbedi itsjlfocr blajfoms. Be cheerful; be full, 
 qf mirth', for the Spring pajjcs foon avjay ; ;'/ will not loft. 
 
 What
 
 A TURKISH ODE. 89 
 
 What gales of fragrance fcent the vernal air ! 
 Hills, dales, and woods, their loyelieft mantles wear. 
 Who knows what cares await that fatal day, 
 When ruder gufts fhall banifh gentle May ? 
 JiVn death, perhaps, our valleys will invade. 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 The tulip now its varied hue dilplays, 
 And fheds, like Ahmed's eye, celeftial rays. 
 Ah, nation ever faithful, ever true, 
 The joys of youth, while May invites, purfue ! 
 Will not thefe notes your timorous minds perfuade? 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 Yineh enwei fliukufileh bezendi bagh u ragh, 
 Yfh ichun kurdi chichekler fahni gulfhenda otagh, 
 JCim bilur ol behareh dek kjh u kirn p!a fagh ? 
 Ylh u nufli it kiin gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar, 
 
 Tarafi gulflien nuri Ahmed birleh nialamaldur, 
 Sebzelerinda. fehabeh lalehi kheirulaldiir, 
 Hei Mohammed ummeti vvakti huzuri haldur. 
 Ylh u nufh it kirn gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 The groves and hills are again adorned with all forts of flowers 
 ft pavilion qfro/es, as the feat of pica/lire t is ra'ifcd in the garden. 
 Who knows ivhich of us \vill be alive ivhen the /air feajbn etias ? 
 $e cheerful, &c. 
 
 The edge of the louver is filed ivith the light of dlmcd: among 
 the plants the fortunate tulips rrf>rcfcnt his companions. 6V'.r, 
 O people of Mohammed^ this, is the feajbn of merriment. Be 
 fbciaywm &c, 
 
 The
 
 90 A TURKISH O D E, 
 
 The fparkling dewdrops o'er the lilies play, 
 Like orient pearls, or like the beams of day. 
 If love and mirth your wanton thoughts engage, 
 Attend, ye nymphs ! (a poet's words are fage). 
 While thus you fit beneath the trembling fhade, 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 The frefh blown rofe like Zeineb's cheek appears, 
 When pearls, like dewdrops, glitter in her ears. 
 The charms of youth at once are feen and paft ; 
 And nature fays, " They are too fweet to laft." 
 So blooms the role ; and fo the blufhing maid ! 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 Kildi fliebnem yineh jeuherdari tighi fufeni, 
 Zhalehler alcfi hewai doiylle leh gulfhene, 
 Gher temafha ifeh makfudun beni efleh beni. 
 Yih u nufh it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar, 
 Rukhleri rengin giuzellar dur gulileh lalehlar, 
 Kim kulaklarineh durlu jeuher afrniih zhalehlat, 
 Aldanup fanma ki bunlar boileh baki kalehlar. 
 Ylh u nufh it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Again the devj glitters on the leaves of the lily, like the wafer of 
 a bright fymitar. The dewdrops fall through the air on the garden 
 ofroj'es. Liften to we, lijtcn to me, if thou dcfireft to be delighted* 
 Be cheerful, (jfc. 
 
 The rojh and tulips are like tie Iright cheeks of beautiful maids, 
 in ivhofe ears the pearls hang like drops of dew. Deceive not tlyj'clf y 
 I>v thinking that thefe charms will have a long duration. Be cheer- 
 
 i'uL fcfr. 
 - ' c 
 
 See
 
 A TURKISH ODE, 91 
 
 See yon anemonies their leaves unfold, 
 With rubies flaming, and with living gold ! 
 While cryftal iliowers from weeping clouds defcend, 
 Enjoy the prefence of thy tuneful friend. 
 Now, while the wines are brought, the fofa's lay'J, 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 The plants no more are dried, the meadows dead, 
 No more the rofe-bud hangs her penfive head : 
 The fhrubs revive in valleys, meads, and bowers, 
 And every ftalk is diadem'd with flowers; 
 In {ilken robes each hillock ftands array'd. 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 Guliftanda giorunin laleh u gul naoman leh 
 Baghda kan aldi fhemfun niihteri baran leh. 
 Arefun bu demi khofh gior bu giun yaran leh, 
 Yfti u nufli it kirn gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar, 
 
 Gitti ol dernier ki olup fcbzeler fahib ferafti, 
 Guncheh fikri gulfhenun olmiftidi bagherinda bafli, 
 Gildi bir dem kim karardi laleh lerle dagh u tafti, 
 Yfti u nufh it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Tulips , rofes, and anemonies, appear in the gardens : the J/iowers 
 and thefunbeams, likejha^p lancets, ti'ige the banks i\iith the colour of 
 Hood. Spend this day agreeably vjitb thy friends^ like a pruduit 
 man. Be cheerful, ($c. 
 
 Ths time is paffcd in ivhicb the plants were jick, and the rofe-bud 
 bring its thoughtful head on its bojom. The fcajon comes in ii^jicb 
 mountains and rocks are coloured with tulips. Be cb^rful, &c. 
 
 Clear
 
 92 A TURKISH ODE. 
 
 Clear drops each morn impearl the rofe's bloom, 
 And from its leaf the Zephyr drinks perfume; 
 The dewy buds expand their lucid {lore : 
 Be this our wealth : ye damfels, alk no more. 
 Though wife men envy, and though fools upbraid, 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 The dewdrops, fprinkled by the mufky gale, 
 Are chang'd to effence ere they reach the dale. 
 The mild blue fky a rich pavilion fpreads, 
 Without our labour, o'er our favour'd heads. 
 Let others toil in war, in arts, or trade. 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 Ebr gulzari uftuneh her fubh goher bariken, 
 Nefhei badi feher por nafei tatariken : 
 Ghafil olmeh alemun mahbublighi wariken. 
 Yfh u nufli it kirn gicher kalmaz bu eiatni behar. 
 
 Buyi gulxar itti fholdenlu hevvai mufhknab 
 Kim yereh inengeh olur ketrei fhebnem gulab. 
 Cherkh otak kurdi guliftan uftuneh giunlik fehab. 
 Yfli u nufh it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Each morning the clouds fied gems over tie rofe-garden : tie 
 k-eatb of the gale is full of Tartarian mujk. Be not neglcRful of thy 
 duty through too great a love of the world. EC cheerful, fee. 
 
 The fwcetnffs of the bo-ivtr has made the air fo fragrant, that the 
 Jew, before it falls, is changed into rofe- water. Ihcjky Ipreads a 
 pavilion efbrbbt clouds ova the garden. Be cheerful, fcV. 
 
 r * Let
 
 A TURKISH ODE. 93 
 
 Late gloomy winter chill'cl the fallen air, 
 Till Soliman arofe, and all was fair. 
 Soft in his reign the notes of love refound, 
 And pleafure's rofy cup goes freely round. 
 Here on the bank, which mantling vines o'erfhade, 
 Be gay : too foon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 May this rude lay from age to age remain, 
 
 A true memorial of this lovely train. 
 Come, charming maid, and hear thy poet fing, 
 Thyfelf the rofe, and He the bird of fpring : 
 Love bids him ling, and Love will be obey'd. 
 Be gay : too ibon the flowers of Spring will fade. 
 
 Gulilhmun her ne fen aldi fiah badi khuzan, 
 Adi idup bir bir ileh wardi yineh fiiahi jehan. 
 Deuletmda badehler kam oldi fakii kamrati. 
 Yfli u nufli it kirn gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Omerem buleh, Melihi, bu merbai iflitihar, 
 Ehlene ola bu chanibru u giuzeller yadgar, 
 Bulbuli khofli gui fen gulyuzluler leh yuriwar. 
 Ylh u nuih it kim gicher kalmaz bu eiami behar. 
 
 Whoever thou art, know that the black gufti of autumn hadfe'med 
 the garden ; but the king of the *:wrhl again appeared dlfpcnfinz 
 jtfftut to all: in his reign the hapjy cupbearer dtjirtd and obtained 
 the Jlo-Mng "Mine. Be <.barfnl, &c, 
 
 By thejejlraini I hoped to celebrate ibis delightful I'aHry : mxv 
 they be a memorial to its inhabitants, and remind them nf this affim- 
 bl\' y and thefefair maim I Thcu art a nightingale ivith a fiveet voice, 
 O Mf/ihi, ivhen thoit walkeft 'with the damfils, whi'/f theeki arc I ke 
 rofei. PC cheerful; be full of mirth; far tht Spring fajps Jbon 
 a~.<:qyi it v/dt not laft> 
 
 T II E
 
 94 ] 
 
 THE SAME, 
 
 IN IMITATION OP THE 
 
 PERVIGILIUM VENERIS, 
 
 A LITES audis loquaces per nemora, per arbutos, 
 -* -*- Veris adventum canentes tinnulo modulamine; 
 Dulce luget per virentes mollis aura amygclalas : 
 Nunc amandum eft, nuac bibendum ; floreum ver fugitj 
 abit ! 
 
 Ecce jam flores refulgent gemmeis honoribus, 
 Quique prata, quique faltuSj quique fylvulas amant; 
 Quis fcit an nox una nobis dormienda aeterna fit ? 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; floreum ver fugit, 
 abit! 
 
 Quantus eft nitor rofarum ! quantus hyacinthi decor ! 
 Non. ocellus, cum renidet, eft puella laetior : 
 Hie levi dies amori eft, hie voluptati facer : 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; fioreum ver fugtt, 
 abit! 
 
 Ecce
 
 CARMEN TURCICUM. 95 
 
 Ecce baccatie recentis guttulse roris micant, 
 Per genam rofae cadentes, perque mite lilium: 
 Auribus gratum, puells, fit meutn veftris melos ; 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; fioreum ver fugit, 
 abit ! 
 
 Ut rofa in prato refulgct, fie teres virgo nitet, 
 Hax onufta margaritis, ilia roris gemmulis : 
 Ne perenne vel puelkc vel rofas fperes decus. 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; florcum ver fugrt, 
 abit ! 
 
 Afpice, ut rofeta ami&u difcolori fplendeant, 
 Prata dum fnccundat cether l*ta gratis imbribus, 
 Fervidos inter fodales da voluptati diem. 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum; fioreum ver fagit, 
 abit ! 
 
 Jam fitu deformis aegro non jacet rofa? calyx ; 
 Ver adeft, ver pingit hortos purpurantes floribus, 
 Perdue faxa, perque colles, perque lucos emicat : 
 Nunc amandura eft, nunc bibendum ; floreum ver fugk, 
 abit ! 
 
 Eccc,
 
 $6 CARMEN TURCICUM. 
 
 Ecce, per rofoe papillas fuave rident guttulae, 
 Quas odorifer refolvit lenis aurae fpiritus ; 
 Hae pyropis, hae fmaragdis cariores Indicis. 
 Nunc amandum eft, mine bibcndum ; floreum ver fugitj 
 abit! 
 
 Is tenellis per vireta fpirat e rofis odor, 
 Ut novum ftillans amomum ros in herbas decidar, 
 Suave olentibus coronans lacrymis conopeum. 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; floreum ver fugit^ 
 abit ! 
 
 Acris olim cum malignis faeviit vemis hyems \ 
 Sed rofeto, foils inftar, fcgis affulfit nitor ; 
 Floruit nemus repente, dulce manavit merum : 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum ; floreum ver fugit^ 
 abit ! 
 
 His iners modis, Mefihi, melleam aptabas chelyn ; 
 Veris ales eft poeta ; verna cantat gaudia, 
 Et rofas carpit tepentes e puellarum genis. 
 Nunc amandum eft, nunc bibendum j floreum ver fagity 
 abit ! 
 
 ARCADIA, 

 
 $3se!SJsgj^Sg3^eaj ags> 
 
 ir $ *$ *S *S ^* *S *i> "4* 
 
 ARCADIA, 
 
 A PASTORAL POEM, 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 ^ 1 ^HE following paftoral was written in the year 
 * 1762; but the author^ finding fo'me tolerable 
 pafTages in it, was induced to correct it afterwards, 
 and to give it a place in this collodion. He took 
 the hint of it from an allegory of Mr. Addifon, in 
 the thirty-fecond paper of the Guardian ; which is 
 *fet down in the margin, that the reader may fee where 
 he has copied the original^ and where he has deviated 
 from it. In this piece, as it now ftands, Menalcas, king 
 of the fhcpherds, means Theocritus, the moft ancient, 
 
 H and
 
 98 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 and perhaps the beft, writer of paftorals : and by his two 
 daughters, Daphne and Hyla, muft be underftood the 
 two forts of paftoral poetry the one elegant and po- 
 liflied, the other fimple and unadorned j in both of 
 which he excelled. Virgil, whom Pope chiefly follow- 
 ed, feems to have borne away the palm in the higher 
 fort; and Spenfer, whom Gay imitated with fuccefs, had 
 equal merit in the more ruftick flyle : thefe two poets, 
 therefore, may juftly be fuppofed in this allegory to have 
 inherited his kingdom of Arcadia. 
 
 ARCADIA.
 
 [ 99 ] 
 
 A* R C A D I A. 
 
 T N thofe fair plains, where glittering Laclon roll'd 
 
 His wanton labyrinth o'er fands of gold, 
 Menalcas reign'd : from Pan his lineage came ; 
 Rich were his vales, and deathlefs was his fame 4 
 When youth impell'd him, and when love infpir'd^ 
 The liflening nymphs his Dorick lays admir'cl : 
 - 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Guardian, N 52. 
 
 In ancient times there dwelt in a pleafant vale of Arcadia a 
 man of very ample pofleffions, named Menalcas, who, deriving 
 his pedigree from the god Pan, kept very ftriliy up to the rules 
 of the pailoral life* as it was in the golden age. 
 
 H* To
 
 ioo ARCADIA. 
 
 To hear his notes the fvvains with rapture flew ; 
 
 A fofter pipe no fhephcrd ever blew. 
 
 But now, opprefs'cl beneath the load of age, 
 
 Belov'd, re r pccled, venerable, fage, 
 
 * Of heroes, demigods, and gods he fung ; 
 
 His reed ncgle&ed on a poplar hung : 
 
 Yet all the rules, that young Arcadians keep, 
 
 He kept, and watch'd each morn his bleating fhecp. 
 
 
 
 Two lovely daughters were his dcarcft care ; 
 Both mild as May, and both as April fair : 
 Love, where they mov'd, each youthful breaft inflam'd ; 
 And Daphne this, and Hyla that was nam'd. 
 f- The lirfl was bamful as a blooming bride, 
 And all her mien difplay'd a decent pride ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 f He had a daughter, his only child, called Amaryllis. She 
 \vus a virgin of a moll enchanting beauty, of a moft eafy and 
 unaffected air; but, having been bred tip wholly in the coun- 
 try, was baihful to the la it degree. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * This coupler alludes to the higher Tdyllia of Theocritus; as the 
 'Eyjwfoay ti; TlTbhtpaiQv, the AitJyxtgct, and others, wlu'ch aie of the 
 heroic kind. 
 
 Her
 
 ARCADIA. 101 
 
 Her trefies, braided in a curious knot, 
 Were clofe confin'd, and not a hair forgot; 
 Where many a flower, in myftick order plac'd, 
 With myrtle twin'cl, her filken fillet grac'd; 
 Nor with lefs neatnefs was her robe difpos'd, 
 And every fold a pleaiing art difclos'd ; 
 Her fandals of the brighteft filk were made, 
 And, as Ihe walk'd, gave luftre to the (hade ; 
 A graceful eafc in every ftep was feen, 
 She mov'd a fhepherdefs, yet look'd a queen. 
 Her fitter fcorn'd to dwell in arching bowers, 
 Or deck her locks with wreaths of fading flowers ; 
 O'er her bare fhoulder flow'd her auburn hair, 
 And, fann'd by Zephyrs, floated on the air ; 
 Green were her bufkins, green the veft fhe wore, 
 And in her hand a knotty crook fhe bore. 
 * The voice of Daphne might all pains difarm; 
 Yet, heard too long, its fweetnefs ceas'd to charm : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * She had a voice that was exceedingly fwcet ; yet had a 
 
 rufticity in her tone, which, lio'.vever, to moft who heard her 
 
 feemed an additional charm. Though in her conversation in 
 
 general (he was very engaging, yet to her lovers, who were 
 
 H 3 numerous,
 
 io2 ARCADIA. 
 
 
 
 But none were tir'd when artlefs Hyla fung, 
 Though fomething ruftick warbled from her tongue. 
 
 Thus both in beauty grew, and both in fame, 
 Their manners different, yet their charms the fame, 
 The young Arcadians, tuneful from their birth, 
 To love devoted, and to rural mirth, 
 Beheld, and fondly lov'd the royal maids, 
 And fung their praife in valleys, lawns, and glades 5 
 From morn to lateft eve they wept, and iigh'd ; 
 And fome for Daphne, fome for Hyla, died : 
 Each day new prefents to the nymphs they bore, 
 And in gay order fpread the fhining ftore ; 
 Some beechen bowls and polifh'd fheephooks brought, 
 With ebon knots, and ftuds of filver, wrought; 
 Some led in flowery bands the playful fawn, 
 . Or bounding roe, that Ipurn'd the graffy lawn; 
 The reft on nature's blooming gifts relied, 
 And rais'd their ilender hopes on beauty's pride : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 numerous, fhe was fo coy, that many left her in difguft after a 
 tedious courtfhip, and matched themfelves where they were 
 better received. 
 
 But
 
 ARCADIA. 103 
 
 But the coy maids, regardlefs of their pain, 
 Their vows derided, and their plaintive {train. 
 Hence fome, whom love with lighter flames had fir'd, 
 Broke their foft flutes, and in defpair retir'd ; 
 To milder damfels told their amorous tale, ' 
 And found a kinder Daphne in the vale. 
 
 It happen'd on a cheerful morn of May, 
 When every meadow fmil'd in frefh array, 
 The fhepherds, rifing at an early hour, 
 In crouds aflembled round the regal bower, 
 There hail'd in fprightly notes the peerlefs maids; 
 And tender accents trembled through the glades. 
 Menalcas, whom the larks with many a lay 
 Had call'd from flumber at the dawn of day, 
 By chance was roving through a bordering dale, 
 And heard the fwains their youthful woes bewail. 
 He knew the caufe ; for long his prudent mind 
 To footh their cares indulgently defign'd : 
 Slow he approach'd ; then wav'd his awful hand, 
 And, leaning on his crook, addrefs'd the liflening band. 
 
 " Arcadian fhepherds, to my words attend ! 
 In filence hear your monarch, and your friend. 
 
 H 4 Your
 
 104 ARCADIA. 
 
 Your fruitlefs pains, which none can difapprove, 
 
 Excite my pity, not my anger move. 
 
 Two gentle maids, the folace of my age, 
 
 Fill all my foul, and all my care engage ; 
 
 When death fl^all join me to the pale-ey'd throng, 
 
 To them my fylvan empire will belong; 
 
 But, left with them the royal line fhould fail, 
 
 And civil difcord fill this happy vale, 
 
 Two chofen ypuths the beauteous nymphs mufl \ved, 
 
 To fhare their power, and grace the genial bed : 
 
 * So may the fwains our ancient laws obey, 
 
 And alj Arcadia own their potent fway. 
 
 But what fage counfel can their choice dircft ? 
 
 "Whom can the nymphs prefer, or whom rejedl ? 
 
 So like your paffion, and fo like your drain, 
 
 That all deserve, yet cannot all obtain, 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 '* For Menalcas had not only refolved to take a fon-in-lavv, 
 ivho fhould inviolably maintain the cuftoms of his family; but 
 had received one evening, as he walked in the fields, a pipe of 
 an antique form from a Faun, or, as fome fay, from Oberon 
 the Fairy, with a particular charge, not to beftow his daughter 
 on any one who could not play the fame tune upon it as at 
 lh.it time he entertained him with,
 
 ARCADIA. 105 
 
 Hear then my tale : as late, by fancy led 
 To deep Cyllene's ever-vocal head, 
 With winding deps I wander'd through the wood, 
 And pour'd wild notes, a Faun before me doodj 
 A flute he held, which as he foftly blew, 
 The feather'd warblers to the found he drew; 
 Then to my hand the precious gift confign'd, 
 And faid, " Menalcas, eafe thy wondering mind : 
 " This pipe, on which the god of fliepherds play'd, 
 " When love inflain'd him, and the * viewlefs maid, 
 (i Receive : ev'n Pan thy tuneful fkill confefs'd, 
 " And after Pan thy lips will grace it bed. 
 " Thy daughter's beauty every bread infpires, 
 " And all thy kingdom glows with equal fires : 
 " But let thofe favour'd youths alone fucceed, 
 *' Who blow with matchlefs art this heavenly reed." 
 f This faid, he difappear'd. Then hear my \vill : 
 Be bold, ye lovers, and exert your fkill ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 f When the time that he clefigned to give her in marriage 
 Was near at hand, he published a decree, whereby he invited 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Echo, 
 
 the
 
 ic6 ARCADIA. 
 
 Be they my fons, who fing the fofteft ftrains, 
 
 i 
 And tune to fweeteft notes their pleafing pains : 
 
 But mark ! whoe'er fhall by too harfh a lay 
 Offend our ears, and from our manners {tray, 
 He, for our favour, and our throne unfit, 
 To foine difgraceful penance muft fubmit." 
 
 He ends ; the fliepherds at his words rejoice, 
 And praife their fovereign with a grateful voice. 
 Each fwain believes the lovely prize his own, 
 And fits triumphant on th' ideal throne ; 
 Kind Vanity their want of art fupplies, 
 And gives indulgent what the Mufc denies ; 
 Gay vefts and flowery garlands each prepares, 
 And each the drefs, that fuits his fancy, wears. 
 
 IMITATIONS, 
 
 the neighbouring youths to make trial of this mufical inltru- 
 ir.ent, with promife, that the vidor fhould poflefs his daughter 
 on condition that the vanquished fhould fubmit to what punifli- 
 ment he thought fit to inflict. Thofe, who were not yet dif- 
 couraged, and had high conceits of their own worth, appeared 
 on the appointed day, in a drefs and ccjuipuge fuitable to their 
 
 refpcctive
 
 ARCADIA. 107 
 
 Now deeper blufhes ting'd the glowing fky, 
 And evening rais'd her filver lamp on high; 
 When, in a bower by Ladon's lucid ftream, 
 Where not a ftar could dart his piercing beam, 
 So thick the curling eglantines difplay'd, 
 With woodbines join'd, an aromatick fhade, 
 The father of the blooming nymphs reclin'd, 
 His hoary locks with facred laurel twin'd : 
 The royal damfels, feated by his fide, 
 Shone like two flowers in fummer's fairefl pride ; 
 The fwains before them crouded in a ring, 
 Prepar'd to blow the flute, or fweetly fing. 
 
 Firft, in the niidft a graceful youth arofe, 
 Born in thofe fields where cryftal MeJe flows : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 refpe&ive fancies. The place of meeting was a flowery mea- 
 dow, through which a clear ftream murmured in many irregu- 
 lar meanders. The ftiepherds made a fpacious ring for the con- 
 tending lovers ; and in one part of it there fat upon a little 
 throne of turf, under an arch of eglantine and woodbines, the 
 father of the maid, and at his right hand the damfel crowned 
 vyith rofes and lilies. She wore a flying robe ot a (light green 
 
 fluff;
 
 joS ARCADIA. 
 
 His air was courtly, his complexion fair; 
 
 And rich perfumes fhcd fweetnefs from his hair, 
 
 That o'er his fhoulder wav'd in flowing curls, 
 
 With rofes braided, and invvreath'd with pearls; 
 
 A wand of cedar for his crook he bore ; 
 
 His flender foot th' Arcadian fandal wore, 
 
 "Yet that fo rich, it feem'd to fear the ground, 
 
 With beaming gems and filken ribbands bound ; 
 
 The plumage of an oitrich grac'd his head, 
 
 And with embroider'd flowers his mantle was o'erfpreaL 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 fluff; fhc had her fheephook in one hand, and the fatal pipe 
 in the other. The firir. who approached her was a youth of a 
 graceful prefence and a courtly air, but drefTed in a richer habit 
 than had ever been feen in Arcadia. He wore a crimfon veir, 
 cut, indeed, after the fliepherd's fafliion, but fo enriched 
 wiih embroidery, and fparkling with jewels, that the eyes of 
 the fpectators were diverted from considering the mode of the 
 garment by the dazzling of the ornaments. His head was co- 
 vered with a plume of feathers, and his (heephook glittered 
 with gold ar.d enamel. He applied the pipe to his lips, 
 and began a tune, which he fet off with fo many graces and 
 
 quavers,
 
 ARCADIA. 109 
 
 * He fung the darling of th* Idalian queen, 
 
 Fall'n in his prime on fad Cythera's green ; 
 
 When weeping graces left the faded plains, 
 
 And tun'd their firings to elegiack ftrains; 
 
 While mourning Loves the tender burden bore, 
 
 "Adonis, fair Adonis, charms no more." 
 
 The theme difpleas'd the nymph, whofe ruder ear 
 
 The tales of fimple fhepherds loy'd to hear. 
 
 The maids and youths, who faw the fwain advance, 
 
 And take the fatal pipe, prepar'd to dance : 
 
 So wildly, fo affe&edly, he play'd, 
 
 His tune fo various and uncouth he made, 
 
 That not a dancer could in cadence move, 
 
 And not a nymph the quaver'd notes approve: 
 
 quavers, that the fhepherds and fliepherdefles, who had paired 
 themfelvcs in order to dance, could not follow it; as indeed it 
 required great (kill and regularity of Heps, which they had never 
 been bred to. Menalcas ordered him to be ftripped of hiscoftly 
 robes, and to be clad in a ruflet weed, and to tend the flocks in 
 the valleys for a year and a day. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Sec Bion, Mofchus, &c. 
 
 They
 
 no ARCADIA. 
 
 They broke their ranks, and join'd the circling tfain^ 
 While burfts of laughter founded o'er the plain. 
 Menalcas rais'd^his hand, and bade retire 
 The filken courtier from th* Arcadian choir: 
 Two eager fhepherds, at the king's command, 
 Rent his gay plume, and fnapp'd his polifh'd wand; 
 They tore his veil, and o'er his bofom threw 
 A weed of homely grain and ruflet hue ; 
 Then fill'd with wither'd herbs his fcented locks^ 
 And fcornful drove him to the low-brow'd rocks j 
 There doom'd to rove, deferted and forlorn, 
 Till thrice the mo'on had arch'd her filver horn* 
 
 * The next that rofe, and took the myftick reedj 
 \Vas wrapp'd ungraceful in a fordid weed : 
 
 * The fecond that appeared was in a very different garb; 
 He was cloathed in a garment of rough goat-fkins, his hair was 
 matted, his beard negle&ed ; in his perfon uncouth, and awkward 
 in his gait. He came up fleering to the nymph, and told her, 
 " He had hugged his lambsj and kitted his young kids, but he 
 " hoped to kifs one that was fweeter." The fair one blufhed 
 with modefty and anger, and prayed fecretly againft him as 
 
 fhe
 
 ARCADIA. m 
 
 A fhaggy hide was o'er his fhoulder fpread, 
 And wreaths of noxious darnel bound his head ; 
 Unftiorn his beard, and tangled was his hair, 
 He rudely walk'd, and thus addrefs'd the fair : 
 " My kids I fondle, and my lambs T kifs ; 
 " Ah ! grant, fweet maid, a more delightful blifs." 
 The damfels blufh with anger and difdain, 
 And turn indignant from the fhamelefs fvvain j 
 To Pan in filence, and to Love> they pray, 
 To make his mufick hateful as his lay* 
 The gods aflent : the flute he roughly takes, 
 And fcarce with pain a grating murmur makes J 
 But when in jarring notes he forc'd his fong, 
 Juft indignation fir'd the rural throng : 
 Shame of Arcadia's bowers ! the youths exclaim^ 
 Whofe tunelefs lays difgrace a fhepherd's name ! 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 ftie gave him the pipe. He fnatched it from her, but with 
 great difficulty made it found ; which was in fuch harih and 
 jarring notes, that the fhepherds cried one and all that he un- 
 deritood no mufick. He was immediately ordered to the moft 
 craggy parts of Arcadia to keep the goats, and commanded 
 never to touch a pipe any more. 
 
 The
 
 ARCADIA. 
 
 y 
 
 The watchful heralds, at Menulcas' nod, 
 Purfued the ruftick with a vengeful rod ; 
 Condemn'd three fummers on the rocky fhore 
 To feed his goats, and touch a pipe no more. 
 
 * Now to the ring a portly fwain advanc'd, 
 Who neither wholly walk'd, nor wholly danc'd; 
 Yet mov'd in pain, fo clofe his crimfon veft 
 Was clafp'd uneafy o'er his ftraining breaft : 
 
 J- " Fair nymph, faid he, the rofes, which you wear, 
 " Your charms improve not, but their own impair." 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * The third that advanced appeared in clothes that were fo 
 flrait and uneafy to him, that he feemed to move in pain. He 
 marched up to the maiden with a thoughtful lock, and ftately 
 pace, and faid, " Divine Amaryllis, you wear not thofe rofes 
 *' to improve your beauty, but to make them afliamed." As (he 
 did not comprehend his meaning, (lie prefented the instrument 
 without reply. The tune that he played was fo intricate and 
 perplexing, that the fhepherds flood itill like people aftonifhe^ 
 and confounded. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 f See Taflb, Guarini, Fontenelle, Camcens, Gard'afib, and Lope 
 de la Vega ; and other writers of paftorals in Italian, French, Portu- 
 juefe, and Spanifh. 
 
 The
 
 ARCADIA. 113 
 
 The maids, unus'd to flowers of eloquence, 
 Smil'd at the words, b.ut could not guefs their fenfe. 
 When in his hand the facred reed he took, 
 Long time he viewM it with a penfive look; 
 Then gave it breath, and rais'd a fhriller note 
 Than when the bird of morning fwells his throat J 
 Through every interval, now low, now high, 
 Swift o'er the flops his fingers feem'd to fly : 
 The youths, who heard fuch muiick with furprize, 
 Gaz'd on the tuneful bard with wondering eyes i 
 He few with fecret pride their deep amaie, 
 Then faid, * " Arcadia fhatl refound my praife, 
 " And every clime my powerful art fliall own ; 
 " This, this, ye fwains, is melody alone : 
 " To me Amphion taught the heavenly ftrains, 
 " Amphion, born on rich Hefperian plains." 
 
 * In vain did he plead that it was the perfe&ion of mufick 
 compofed by the molt Ikilful mailer of Hefperia. Menalcas, 
 finding that he was a ftranger, hofpitably took compaffion on 
 him, and delivered him to an old (hepherd, who was ordered 
 to get him clothes that would fit him, and teach him how to 
 fpeak plain. 
 
 I To
 
 H4 ARCADIA. 
 
 To whom Menalcas : "Stranger, we admire 
 
 " Thy notes melodious, and thy rapturous fire; 
 
 " But ere to thefe fair valleys thou return, 
 
 Adopt our manners, and our language learn : 
 
 " Some aged fhepherd fhall thy air improve, 
 
 " And teach thee how to fpeak, and how to move." 
 
 * Soon to the bower a rnodeft (Iripling came, 
 Faireft of fwains ; and f Tityrus his name : 
 Mild was his look, an eafy grace he fhow'd, 
 
 And o'er his beauteous limbs a decent mantle flow'd : 
 As through the croud he prefs'd, the fylvan choir 
 His mien applauded, and his neat attire ; 
 And Daphne, yet untaught in amorous lore, 
 Felt flrange defires, and pains unknown before. 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * The fourth that flepped forward v as young Amyntas, the 
 inoft beautiful of all the Arcadian fwains, and fecretly beloved 
 by Amaryllis. He wore that day the fame colours as the maid 
 tor whom he fighed. He moved towards her with an eafy, but 
 unaflured, air: (he blulhed as he came near her; and when flic 
 gave him the fatal prefent, they both trembled, but neither 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 f The name fuppofed to be taken by Virgil in his rft paftoral. 
 
 could
 
 ARCADIA. 115 
 
 tie now begins; the dancing Hills attend, 
 
 And knotty oaks from mountain-tops defcend : 
 
 He {ings of fwains beneath the beechen (hade, 
 
 * When lovely Amaryllis fill'd the glade; 
 
 Next, in afympathizing lay, complains 
 
 Of love unpitied, and the lover's pains : 
 
 But when with art the hallow'd pipe he b'ew^ 
 
 What deep attention hufh'd the rival crew ! 
 
 He play'd fo fweetly, and fo fweetly fung, 
 
 That on each note th' enraptur'd audience hung ; 
 
 Ev'n blue-hair'd nymphs, from Ladort's limpid ftreamj 
 
 Rais'd their bright heads, and liflen'd to the theme ; 
 
 Then through the yielding waves in tranfport glanc'dj 
 
 Whilft on the banks the joyful {hcpherds danc'd : 
 
 IMITATION Si 
 
 could fpeak. Having fecretly breathed his vows to the gods, he 
 poured forth fuch melodious notes, that, though they were a 
 little wild and irregular, they filled every heart with delights 
 The fwains immediately mingled in the dance ; and the old 
 Ihepherds affirmed, that they had often heard fuch mufick by 
 night, which they imagined to be played by fome of the rural 
 
 deities. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Formofam refonare cloccs Amaryllula fylvara. Virgt 
 
 I a " W
 
 ARCADIA. 
 
 " We oft, faid they, at clofe of evening flowers, 
 
 t( Have heard fuch mufick in the vocal bovvers: 
 
 " We wonder'd ; for we thought fome amorous god, 
 
 " That on a lilver moonbeam fwiftly rode, 
 
 " Had fann'cl with ftarry plumes the floating air, 
 
 " And touch'd his harp, to charm fome mortal fair.** 
 
 He ended ; and as rolling billows loud 
 His praife refounded from the circling croud. 
 The clamorous tumult foftly to compofe, 
 KigU in the midft the plaintive * Colin rofe, 
 Born on the lilied banks of royal Thame, 
 Which oft had rung with Rofalinda's name J 
 Fair, yet negle&ed; neat, yet unadorn'd; 
 The pride of drefs, and flowers of art, he fcorn'd : 
 And, like the nymph who fir'd his youthful b re aft, 
 Green were his bufkins, green his fimple veft : 
 With carelefs eafe his rufiick lays he fung, 
 And melody flowM fmoothly from his tongue : 
 Of June's gay fruits and Auguft's corn he told, 
 The bloom of April, and December's cold ; 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Colin is the name that Spenfer takes in his paftoraUj and Rofa 
 
 linda is that under which he celebrates his miftrefs. 
 
 The
 
 ARCADIA. .117 
 
 * The loves of fhepherds, and their harmlefs cheer 
 In every month that decks the varied year. 
 Now on the flute with equal grace he play'd, 
 And his foft numbers died along the fhade ; 
 The fkilful dancers to his accents mov'd, 
 And every voice his eafy tune approv'd ; 
 Ev'n Hyla, blooming maid, admir'd the ftrain, 
 While through her bofom Ihot a pleating pain. 
 
 Now all were hufh'd : no rival clurfl arife ; 
 Pale were their cheeks, and full of tears their eyes. 
 Menalcas, riling from his flowery feat, 
 Thus, with a voice majeftically fweet, 
 Addrefs'd th' attentive throng : u Arcadians, hear! 
 " The iky grows dark, and beamy ftars appear : 
 u Hafte to the yale ; the bridal bowers prepare, 
 '* And hail with joy Menalcas' tuneful heir. 
 '* Thou, Tityrus, of fvvains the pride and grace, 
 '* Shalt clafp foft Daphne in thy fond embrace: 
 " And thou, young Colin, in thy willing arms 
 " Shalt fold my Hyla, fair in native charms 
 *< O'er thefe fweet plains divided empire hold, 
 ** And to your lateft race tranfmit an age of gold. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Sec the Shepherd's Kalendar. 
 
 13 What
 
 ii8 A R C A D I A. 
 
 " What fplendid vifions rife before my fight, 
 
 " And fill my aged bofom with delight ! 
 
 " * Henceforth of wars and conqneft fljall you fing, 
 
 ?' ARMS AND THE MAN in every clime (hall ring: 
 
 *-' Thy mufe, bold Maro, Tityrus no more, 
 
 " Shall tell of chiefs that left the Phrygian fhore, 
 
 " Sad Dido's love, and Venus' wandering fon, 
 
 '* The Latians vanquifh'd, and Lavinia won. 
 
 <l And thou, O Colin, heaven-defended youth, 
 
 " Shalt hide in fiction's veil the charms of truth j 
 
 * f Thy notes the fling of forrow fhall beguile, 
 
 f c And fmooth the brow of anguifii till it fmilej 
 
 * f Notes, that a fweet Elyfian dream can raife, 
 
 " And lead th' enchanted foul through fancy's maze; 
 
 " Thy verfe fhall fliine with Gloriana's name, 
 
 * ; And fill the world with Britain's encUefs fame." 
 
 * To Tityrus then he gave the facred flute, 
 And bade his fons their blufhing brides falute; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * The good old man leaped from his throne, and, after he 
 had embraced him, prefented him to his daughter, which caufed 
 a general acclamation. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * This prophecy of Menalcas alludes to the JEneid of Virgil, and 
 the Fairy-Queen of Spenfer. 
 
 Whilft
 
 ARCADIA. 
 
 Whilft all the train a lay of triumph fung, 
 Till mountains echo'd, and till valleys rung. 
 
 * While thus with mirth they tun'd the nuptial ftrain, 
 A youth, too late, was haftening o'er the plain, 
 
 Clad in a flowing veft of azure hue ; 
 
 t Blue were his fandals, and his girdle blue : 
 
 A Have, ill-drefs'd and mean, behind him bore 
 
 An ofier-balket, fill'd with fifhy ftore ; 
 
 The lobfter with his fable armour bold; 
 
 The tafteful mullet deck'd with fcales of gold ; 
 
 Bright perch, the tyrants of the finny breed ; 
 
 And greylings fweet, that crop the fragrant weed: 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * While they were in the midfl of their joy, they were fur- 
 prifed with a very odd appearance. A perfon, in a blue man- 
 tle, crowned with fedges and rufhes, Itepped into the midli of 
 the ring. He had an angling rod in his hand, a pannier upon 
 his back ; and a poor meagre wretch in wet clothes carried fome 
 oyfters before him. Being afked, whence he came, and what 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 f Sec Sannazaro, Ongaro, Phincas Fletcher, and other writers of 
 pifcatory eclogues. 
 
 I 4 he
 
 izo ARCADIA. 
 
 Among them fhells of many a tint appear ; 
 * The heart of Venus, and her pearly ear; 
 The nautilus, on curling billows born; 
 And fcallops, by the wandering pilgrim worn ; 
 Some dropp'd with filver, fome with purple dye ; 
 With all the race that feas or ftreams fupply ; 
 A net and angle o'er his fhoulder hung : 
 Thus was the ftranger clad, and thus he fung : 
 " Ah ! lovely damfel, leave thy fimple fheep; 
 <c 'Tis fweeter in the Tea-worn rock to fleep : 
 '* There fhall thy line the fcaly fhoals betray, 
 " And fports, unknown before, beguile the day ; 
 *' To guide o'er rolling waves the dancing ik\ff, 
 <l Or pluck the famphire from th' impending cliff: 
 <c My rapturous notes the blue-ey'd Nereids praife, 
 ft And {ilver- footed Naiads hear m,y lays." 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 he was, he told them lie was come to invite Amaryllis from the 
 plains to the fea-fhore; that his fubftance conlifted in fea- 
 calves; and that he was acquainted with the Nereids and 
 Naiads. '* Art thou acquainted with the Naiads r" faid Menal- 
 cas, " to them (halt thou return." The fhepherds immediately 
 hoiiled him up as an enemy to Arcadia, and plunged him in 
 the river, where he funk, and was never heard of fince. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * Ftutus'j heart and FenuSi ear are the names of two very beautiful 
 
 *"" To
 
 ARCADIA. 
 
 * To them, Menalcas faicl, thy numbers pour ; 
 '* Infult our flocks and blifsful vales no more." 
 He fpoke; the heralds knew their fovereign's will, 
 And hurl'd the fiflier down the (loping hill : 
 Headlong he plung'd beneath the liquid plain, 
 (But not a nymph receiv'd the falling fwain) ; 
 Then, dropping, rofe ; and, like the rufhing wind, 
 Impetuous fled, nor caft a look behind: 
 * He fought the poplar'd banks of winding Po, 
 Put fhunn'd the meads where Ladon's waters flow. 
 
 f Ere through nine radiant fVns the flaming fun 
 
 o c* o 
 
 His courfe refplendent in the Zodiack run, 
 The royal damfels, bafliful now no more, 
 Two lovely boys on one glad morning bore; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 t Amyntas and Amaryllis lived a long and happy life, and 
 governed the vales of Arcadia. Their generation was very 
 long-lived, there having been but four defcems in above two 
 thoufand years, His heir was pulled Theocritus, who lelt iii 
 dominions to Virgil. Virgil left his to his Ion Sj-enfer, and 
 Spenfer was fucceeded by his eldelt-born Philips. 
 
 N O T E. 
 
 * This alludes to the Latin compositions of Saiiiiazarius ; which 
 have great merit in their kind, 
 
 From
 
 122 ARCADIA. 
 
 From blooming Daphne fair Alexis fprung, 
 
 And Colinet on Hyla's bolbm hung; 
 
 Both o'er the vales of fweet Arcadia reign'd, 
 
 And both the manners of their fires retain'd : 
 
 * Alexis, fairer than a morn of May, 
 
 In glades and forefts tun'd his rural lay, 
 
 More foft than rills that through the valley flow, 
 
 Or vernal gales that o'er the violets blow; 
 
 He fung the tender woes of artlefs fwalns, 
 
 Their tuneful contefls, and their amorous pains; 
 
 When early fpring has wak'd the breathing flowers, 
 
 Or winter hangs with froft the filvery bowers : 
 
 f But Colinet in ruder numbers tells 
 
 The loves of rufticks, and fair-boding fpells ; 
 
 Sings how they fimply pafs the livelong day, 
 
 And foftly mourn, or innocently play. 
 
 Since them no fhepherd rules th' Arcadian mead, 
 But f.lent hangs Menalcas* fatal reed. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 See Pope's paftorah, 
 
 See die Shepherd's Week, of Bay. 
 
 CAISSA,
 
 O R, 
 
 A POEM. 
 
 Written in the year 1763.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 THE firft idea of the following piece was taken from 
 a Latin poem of Vida, entitled SCACCHIA LUDUS, 
 which was tranllated into Italian by Marino, and inferted 
 in the fifteenth Canto of his Adonis : the author thought 
 it fair to make an acknowledgment in the notes for the 
 paflages which he borrowed from thofe two poets ; but 
 he muft alfo do them the juftice to declare, that moft of 
 the defcriptions, and the whole ftory of Cai'fla, which 
 is written in imitation of Ovid, are his own, and their 
 faults muft be imputed to him only. The characters in 
 the poem are no lefs imaginary than thofe in the epifode; 
 in which the invention of Chefs is poetically afcribed to 
 Mars, though it is certain that the game was originally 
 brought from India.
 
 I 
 
 A. 
 
 F armies on the chequerM field array'd, 
 And guiltlefs war in pleafing form difplay'd ; 
 When two bold kings contend with vain alarms, 
 In ivory this, and that in ebon arms ; 
 Sing, fportive maids, that haunt the facred hill 
 Of Pindus, and the fam'd Pierian rill. 
 f Thou, joy of all below, and all above, 
 Mild Venus, queen of laughter, queen of loft ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Ludimus effigiem belli, fimulataque veris 
 
 Praelia, buxo acies fidlas, et ludicra fegna : 
 
 Ut gemini inter fe reges, albufque nigerque, 
 
 Pro laude oppofui certent bicoloribus armis. 
 
 Dicite, Seriades Nymphae, cerramina tanta. 
 f ^Eneadum genitrix, hominum divumquc 
 
 Alma Venus ! &c. Lucretius. 
 
 Leave
 
 126 C A I S S A. 
 
 Leave thy bright ifland, where on many a rofe 
 And many a pink thy blooming train repofe : 
 Affift me, goddefs ! fince a lovely pair 
 Command my fong, like thee divinely fair. 
 
 Near yon cool ftream, whofe living waters play, 
 And rife tranflucent in the folar ray ; 
 Beneath the covert of a fragrant bower, 
 Where fpr ing's foft influence purpled every flower ; 
 Two fmiling nymphs reclin'd in calm retreat, 
 And envying bloffoms crouded round their feat ; 
 Here Delia was enthron'd, and by her fide 
 The fweet Sirena, both in beauty's pride : 
 Thus fhine two rofes, frefh with early bloom, 
 That from their native ftalk difpenfe perfume j 
 Their leaves unfolding to the dawning day 
 Gems of the glowing mead, and eyes of May. 
 A band of youths and damfels fat around, 
 Their flowing locks with braided myrtle bound ; 
 Agatis, in the graceful dance admir'd, 
 And gentle Thyrfis, by the mufe infpir'd ; 
 With Sylvia, faireft of the mirthful train ; 
 And Daphnis, doom'd to love, yet love in vain. 
 
 Now,
 
 C A I S S A. 127 
 
 Now, whilft a purer blufh o'erfpreads her cheeks, 
 With foothing accents thus Sirena fpeaks : 
 
 " The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light, 
 11 And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight ; 
 " Whilft on each bank the dewdrops fweetly fmile ; 
 " What fport, my Delia, fhall the hours beguile ? 
 " Shall heavenly notes, prolonged with various art, 
 " Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart? 
 " At diftance fhall we view the fylvan chace ? 
 
 '* Or catch with filken lines the finny race t n 
 
 * 
 
 Then Delia thus : " Or rather, fince we meet 
 " By chance aflembled in tlu's cool retreat, 
 " In artful conteft let our warlike train 
 ** Move well-dire&ed o'er the colour'd plain; 
 " Daphnis, who taught us firft, the play fhall guide; 
 " Explain its laws, and o'er the field prefide : 
 " No prize we need, our ardour to inflame j 
 " We fight with pleafure, if we fight for fame." 
 
 The nymph confents : the maids and youths prepare 
 To view the combat, and the fport to fhare ; 
 
 But
 
 12 8 C A I S S A. 
 
 But Daphnis moft approved the bold defign, 
 
 Whom Love inftru&ed, and the tuneful Nine. 
 
 He rofe, and on the cedar table plac'd 
 
 A polifh'd board, with differing colours grac'd 
 
 * Squares eight times eight in equal order lie ; 
 
 Thefe bright as mow, thofe dark with fable dye } 
 
 Like the broad target by the tortoife born, 
 
 Or like the hide by fpotted panthers worn. 
 
 Then from a cheft, with harmlefs heroes ftor'd, 
 
 O'er the fmooth plain two well- wrought hofts he pour'd J 
 
 The champions burnM their rivals to alTail, 
 
 t Twice eight in black } twice eight in milkwhite mail 5 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 * Sexaginta infant et quatuor ordine fedes 
 Octono ; parte ex omni, via limite quadrat 
 Ordinibus paribus ; necnon forma omnibus una 
 Scdibus, aequale et fpatium, fed non color unus 3 
 Alternant femper varias, fubeuntque viciffim 
 Albentes nigris ; teftudo pifta fuperne 
 
 Qualia devexo geftat difcrimina tergo. 
 
 M* 
 
 j- Agmina bina pari numeroque, et viribus nequis, 
 Bis niveacum veile oifto, totidenique nigranti. 
 Ut variae facies, pariter funt et fua cuique 
 Nomina, diverfum munus, non asqua poteftas^
 
 C A I S S 'A. 
 
 Itt fhape and ftation different, as in name, 
 Their motions various, nor their power the fame. 
 Say, mufe ! (for Jove has nought from thee conceal'd) 
 Who form'd the legions ori the level field ? 
 
 High in the midft the reverend kings appear^ 
 And o'er the reft their pearly fcepters rear ; 
 One folemn ftep, majeftically flow, 
 They gravely move, and fhun the dangerous foe j 
 If e'er they call, the watchful fubje&s fpring, 
 And die with rapture if they fave their king; 
 On him the glory of the day depends, 
 He once imprifon'd, all the confiift ends. 
 
 The queens exulting near their conforts ftand 5 
 Each bears a deadly falchion in her hand ; 
 Now here, now there, they bound with furious pride^ 
 And rhin the trembling ranks from fide to fide; 
 Swift as Camilla flying o'er the main, 
 Or lightly Ikimming o'er the dewy plain : 
 Fierce as they feem, fome bold Plebeian fpear 
 May pierce their Ihield, or flop their full career* 
 
 The valiant guards, their minds on havock bent, 
 Fill the next fquares, and watch the royal tent ; 
 
 K Thpugjj
 
 t3P C A I S S A- 
 
 Though weak their fpears, though dwarfifli be their height, 
 
 * Corapaft they move, die bulwark of the fight. 
 
 To right and left the martial wings difplay 
 Their (hinigg arms, and ftaad in clofe array. 
 Behold, four archers, eager to advance, 
 Send thf light reed, and rufh with (idelong glance ; 
 Through angles ever they affault the foes, 
 True to the colour, which at firft they chofe. 
 Then four bold knights for courage fani'd and fpeed, 
 Each knight exalted on a prancing Heed : 
 t Their arching courfe ao vulgar limit knows, 
 Tranfverfe they leap, and aim iniidioua Wows : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 f II cavailo leggier per dritta lifta, 
 
 Conie gli ahii, P arringo unqua uon fende, 
 SLi la lizza attraverfk, e fiero in villa 
 Curvo iti giro, e lunato il falto ftende, 
 E fempre nel faltar due cafe acquifta, 
 Quel colore abbandona, e queilo prende. 
 
 Marino, Adone. i-g. 
 NOTE. 
 
 * TKe chief art in die Tafticks of Chefs confifti in tlie nice con- 
 duftof the royal pawns; in fupporting them againft every attack; 
 and, if they are taken, in fupplying their places with others ecpjally 
 fuppotted : a principle, on which the fuccefs of the game in great 
 meafure depends, though it feems to be omitted by die very accu- 
 rate Vida. 
 
 Nor
 
 C A I S S A* 1 
 
 Kor friends, nor foes, their rapid force reflrain, 
 
 By one quick bound two changing fquares they gain ; 
 
 From varying hues renew the fierce attack, 
 
 And rufh from black to white, from white to black. 
 
 Four folemn elephants the fides defend ; 
 
 Beneath the load of ponderous towers they bend i 
 
 In one unalter'd line they tempt the fight ; 
 
 Now crufh the left, and now overwhelm the right* 
 
 Bright in the* front the dauntlefs foldiers raife 
 
 Their polifh'd fpears j their fleely helmet blaze i 
 
 Prepar'd they ftand the daring foe to ftrike, 
 
 Direct their progrefs, but their wounds oblique. 
 
 Now fwell th* embattled troops with hoftile ragej 
 And clang their fliieldsj impatient to engage; 
 When Daphnis thus : A varied plain behold, 
 Where fairy kings their mimick tents unfold^ 
 As Oberon, and Mab, his wayward queen, 
 Lead forth their armies on the daified green. 
 No mortal hand the wondrous fport contriv'd, 
 By Godi invented; and from Gods deriv'd j 
 
 K* Fr 
 
 OR)
 
 132 C A I S S A. 
 
 * From them the Britifti nymphs receiv'd the game, 
 And play each morn beneath the cryftal Thame j 
 Hear then the tale, which they to Colin fung, 
 As idling o'er the lucid wave he hung. 
 
 A lovely Dryad rang'd the Thracian wild, 
 Her air enchanting, and her afpeft mild ; 
 To chafe the bounding hart was all her joy, 
 Averfe from Hymen, and the Cyprian boy ; 
 O'er hills and valleys was her beauty fam'd, 
 And fair Caifla was the damfel nam'd. 
 Mars faw the maid ; with deep furprize he gaz'd, 
 Admir'd her ftiape, and every gefture prais'd : 
 His golden bow the child of Venus bent, 
 And through his breaft a piercing arrow fent : 
 The reed was Hope ; the feathers, keen Defire ; 
 The point, her eyes; the barbs, ethereal fire. 
 Soon to the nymph he pour'd his tender ftrain ; 
 The haughty Dryad fcorn'd his amorous pain : 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 * Qua: quondam fub aquis gaudent fpe&acla tueri 
 Nereides, vaftique omnis gens accoia ponti ; 
 Siquando placidum mare, et huraida regna quierunt. 
 
 He
 
 C A I S S A. 133 
 
 He told his woes, where'er the maid he found, 
 
 And ftill he prefs'd, yet ftill Caifla frown'd; 
 
 But ev'n her frowns (ah, what might fmiles have done !) 
 
 FirM all his foul, and all his fenfes won. 
 
 He left his car, by raging tigers drawn, 
 
 And lonely wander'd o'er the dufky lawn ; 
 
 Then lay defponding near a murmuring ftream, 
 
 And fair Ca'iiTa was his plaintive theme. 
 
 A Naiad heard him frem her mofly bed, 
 
 And through the cryftal rais'd her placid head ; 
 
 Then mildly fpake: " O thou, whom love infpires, 
 
 " Thy tears will nourifh, not allay thy fires. 
 
 " The fmiling bloffoms drink the pearly dew ; 
 
 *' And ripening fruit the feather'd race purfue; 
 
 " The fcaly fhoats devour the filken weeds ; 
 
 tf Love on our fighs, and on our forrow feeds. 
 
 " Then weep no more ; but, ere thou canft obtain 
 
 ' Balm to thy wounds, and folace to thy pain,' 
 
 " With gentle art thy martial look beguile ; 
 
 " Be mild, and teach thy rugged brow to fmile. 
 
 " Canft thou no play, no foothing game devife, 
 ' To make thee lovely in the damfel's eyes ? 
 " So may thy prayers affuage the fcornful dame, 
 " And ev'n CailTa own a mutual flame." 
 
 K 3 Kin
 
 134 C A I S S ^ 
 
 " 
 
 *^ Kind nymph, faid Mars, thy counfel I approve; 
 (l Art, only art, her ruthlefs breaft can move. 
 " But when ? or how ? Thy dark difcourfe explain : 
 1* So may thy ftrearn ne'er fwell with gufhing rain 
 *< So may thy waves in one pure current flow, 
 * f And flowers eternal on thy border blow !" 
 
 To whom the maid replied with fmiling mien : 
 " Above the palace of the Paphian queen 
 " * Love's brother dwells, a boy of graceful port, 
 *' By gods nam'd Euphron, and by mortals Sport: 
 V Seek, him ; to faithful ears unfold thy grief, 
 '* And hope, eje morn return, a fweet relief. 
 *' His temple hangs below the azure ikies j 
 W Seeft thou yon argent cloud ? 'Tis there it lies.'* 
 This faid, Ihe funk beneath the liquid plain, 
 And fought the rnanfion of her blue-hair'd train. 
 
 ! i i.i i i I 1*11' 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 '? Ecco d' aftuto ingegno, e pronta mano 
 Garzon, che fempre fcherza, e vola ratto, 
 Qifco. s'a^ella, ede </' amor germano, 
 
 Marino, Adone. 15. 
 
 Meantime
 
 L 
 
 C A 1 S S A. 
 
 Meantime the god, elate with heart-felt joy, 
 
 Had reach'd the temple of the fportful boy ; 
 
 He told Caiffa's charms, his kindled fire, 
 
 The Naiad's counfcl, and his warm defirei 
 
 " Be fwift, he added, give my paffion aid; 
 
 " A god requefts." He fpake, and Sport obey'd. 
 
 He fram'd a tablet of celeftial mold, 
 
 Jnlay'd with fquares of iilver and of gold ; 
 
 Then of two metals form'd the warlike band, 
 
 That here compact in fhow of battle ftand ; 
 He taught the rules that guide the penfive game, 
 And call'd it Cdjja from the Dryad's name : 
 (Whence Albion's fons, who moft its praife confefs, 
 Approv'd the play, and nam'd it thoughtful Chefs.) 
 The god delighted thank'd indulgent Sport ; 
 Then grafpM the board, and left his airy court. 
 With radiant feet he pierc'd the clouds ; nor flay'd, 
 Till in the woods he faw the beauteous maid : 
 Tir'd with the chafe the damfel fat reclin'd, s 
 Her girdle loofe, her bofom unconfin'd. 
 He took the figure of a wanton Faun, 
 And flood before her on the flowery lawn ; 
 Then fhow'd his tablet : pleas'd the nymph furvey'd 
 The lifelefs troops in glittering ranks difplay*d ; 
 
 K 4 She
 
 136 C A I S S A. 
 
 She afk'd the wily fylvan to explain 
 
 The various motions of the fplendid train; 
 
 With eager heart fhe caught the winning lore, 
 
 And thought ev'n Mars lefs hateful than before : 
 
 '? What fpell, faid (he, deceiv'd my carelefs mind? 
 
 f* The god was fair, and I was moft unkind." 
 
 She fpoke, and faw the changing Faun aflume 
 
 A milder afpec*r, and a fairer bloom ; 
 
 His wreathing horns, that from his temples grew, 
 
 Flow'd down in curls of bright celeftial hue ; 
 
 The dappled hairs, that veil'd his lovelefs face, 
 
 Blaz'd into beams, and fhow'd a heavenly grace ; 
 
 The, fhaggy hide, that mantled o'er his breaft, 
 
 Was foften'd to a fmooth tranfparent veft, 
 
 That throueh its folds his vigorous bofom fhow'd, 
 
 O ^ * 
 
 And nervous limbs, where youthful ardour glow'd : 
 (Had Venus view'd him in thofe blooming charms, 
 Not Vulcan's net had forc'd her from his arms.) 
 With goatlike feet no more he mark'd the ground, 
 But braided flowers his filken fandals bound. 
 The Dryad blufh'd ; and, as he prefs'd her, fmil'd, 
 \Vhilft all his cares one tender glance beguil'd. 
 
 He
 
 C A I S S A. 137 
 
 He ends: To arms, the maids and ftriplings cry; 
 To arms, the groves and founding vales reply. 
 Sirena led to war the fwarthy crew, 
 And Delia thofe that bore the lily's hue. 
 Who firft, O mufe, began the bold attack ; 
 The white refulgent, or the mournful black ? 
 Fair Delia firft, as favouring lots ordain, 
 Moves her pale legions tow'rd the fable train : 
 From thought to thought her lively fancy flies, 
 Whilft o'er the board flie darts her fparkling eyes. 
 
 At length the warriour moves with haughty ftrides; 
 Who from the plain the fnowy king divides; 
 With equal hafte his fwarthy rival bounds ; 
 His quiver rattles, and his buckler founds : 
 Ah ! haplefs youths, with fatal warmth you burn ; 
 Laws, ever fix'd, forbid you to return. 
 Then from the wing a mort-liv'd fpearman flies, 
 Unfafely bold, and fee ! he dies, he dies : 
 The dark-brow'd hero, with one vengeful blow 
 Of life and place deprives his ivory foe. 
 Now rufh both armies o'er the burnifh'd field, 
 Hurl the fwift dart, and rend die burfting fhield. 
 
 Her*
 
 >3 S C A I S S A. 
 
 Here furious knights on fiery courfers prance, 
 Here archer* fpring, and lofty towers advance. 
 But fee ! the white-rob'd Amazon beholds 
 Where the dark hoft its owning van unfolds : 
 Soon as her eye difcernsthe hoftile maid, 
 By ebon Ihield, and ebon helm betray'd ; 
 Seven fquares (he paiTes with majeftick mien, 
 And ftands triumphant o'er the falling queen. 
 PerplexM, and Ibrrowing at his conforms fate, 
 The monarch burn'd with rage, defpair, and hate : 
 Swift from his zone th* avenging blade he drew, 
 And, mad with ire, the proud virago flew. 
 Meanwhile fwect-fmiling Delia's wary king 
 Retir'd from fight behind his circling wing. 
 
 Long time the war in equal balance hung; 
 Till, unforefeen, an ivory courfer fprung, 
 And, wildly prancing in an evil hour, 
 Attacked' at once the monarch and the tower : 
 Sirena blufh'd ; for, as the rules requir'd, 
 Her injur r d fovereign to his tent retir'd ; 
 Whilft her loft caftle leaves his threatening height, 
 And adds new glory to th' exulting knight. 
 
 At
 
 C A I At 
 
 At this, pale fear opprcfs'd the drooping maid, 
 And on her cheek the rpfe began to fade : 
 A cryftal tear, that flood prcpar'd to fall, 
 She wip'd in filence, and conceal'd from all$ 
 From all but Daphnis : He remark'd her pain, 
 And faw the vveaknefs of her ebon train ; 
 Then gently fpoke : " Let me your lofs fupply, 
 " And either nobly win, or nobly die ; 
 *< Me oft has fortune crown'd with fair fuccefs, 
 ^ And led to triumph in the fields of Chefs." 
 He faid : the willing nymph her place refign'd, 
 And fat at diftance on the bank reclin'd. 
 Thus whe.n Minerva call'd her chief to arms, 
 And Troy's high turret fhook with dire alarms, 
 The Cyprian goddefs wounded left the plain, 
 And Mars engag'd a mightier force in vain f 
 
 Straight Daphnis leads his fquadron to the field; 
 (To Delia's arms 'tis ev'n a joy to yield.) 
 Each guileful fnare, and fubtle art he tries, 
 But finds his art lefs powerful than her eyes : 
 Wifdom and ftrength fuperiour charms obey ; 
 And beauty, beauty, wins the lon^-fought day. 
 
 By
 
 140 C A I S S A. 
 
 By this a hoary chief, on flaughter bent, 
 Approach'd the gloomy king's unguarded tent ; 
 Where, late, his confort fpread difmay around, 
 Now her dark corfe lies bleeding on the ground. 
 Hail, happy youth ! thy glories not unfung 
 Shall live eternal on the poet's tongue ; 
 For thou (halt foon receive a fplendid change, 
 And o'er the plain with nobler fury range. 
 The fwarthy leaders faw the ftorm impend, 
 And ftrove in vain their fovereign to defend : 
 Th* invader vvav'd his filver lance in air, 
 And flew like lightning to the fatal fquare; 
 
 His limbs dilated in a moment grew 
 
 i 
 
 To flately height, and widen'd to the view ; 
 
 More fierce his look, more lion-like his mien, 
 
 Sublime he mov'd, and feem'd a warriour queen. 
 
 As when the fage on ibme unfolding plant 
 
 Has caught a wandering fly, or frugal ant, 
 
 His hand the microfcopick frame applies, 
 
 And lo ! a bright-hair'd monfter meets his eyes; 
 
 He fees new plumes in flender cafes roll'd ; 
 
 Here frain'd with azure, there bedropp'd with gold ; 
 
 Thus, on the alter'd chief both armies gaze, 
 
 And both the kings are nVd with deep amaze. 
 
 The
 
 C A I S S A. 141 
 
 The fword, which arm'd the fnow-white maid before, 
 
 He now affumes, and hurls the fpear no more ; 
 
 Then fprings indignant on the dark-rob'd band, 
 
 And knights and archers feel his deadly hand. 
 
 Now flies the monarch of the fable fhield, 
 
 His legions vanquifh'd, o'er the lonely field : 
 
 * So when the morn, by rofy courfers drawn, 
 
 With pearls and rubies fows the verdant lawn, 
 
 Whilft each pale ftar from heaven's blue vault retires, 
 
 Still Venus gleams, and laft of all expires. 
 
 He hears, where'er he moves, the dreadful found ; 
 
 Check the deep vales, and Check the woods rebound. 
 
 No place remains : he fees the certain fate, 
 
 And yields his throne to ruin, and Checkmate. 
 
 A brighter blufh o'erfpreads the damfel's cheeks, 
 And mildly thus the conquer'd ftripling fpeaks : 
 " A double triumph, Delia, hait thou won, 
 ** By Mars protected, and by Venus' fon ; 
 
 IMITATIONS. 
 
 Medio rex sequore inermis 
 
 Conltitit ainillis fociis ; velut sethere in alto 
 Expulit ardentes flammas ubi lutea bigis 
 Luciteris Aurora, tuus pulcherrimus ignis 
 Lucet adhuc, Venus, et ccelo mox ultimus exit, 
 
 f'ida, ver. 604. 
 " The
 
 142 C A I S S A. 
 
 ' The firft with conqueft crowrts thy matctilefs art^ 
 " The fecond points thofe eyes at Daphnis' heart." 
 She fmil'd ; the nymphs and amorous youths arifc^ 
 And own, that beauty gain'd the nobler prize. 
 
 Low in their cheil the mimick tfoops were lay'dj 
 * And peaceful flept the fable hero's fhade. 
 
 * A parody of the laft line in Pope's tranflation of the Ili 
 " And peaceful flept the mighty He&or's lhade '* 
 
 CAR-
 
 [ H3 1 
 
 CARMINUM LIBER. 
 
 I. ODE S I N I C A* 
 
 ~T Tides ut agros dulce gemmates, lavet 
 
 Argenteus rivi latex ; 
 Virides ut aura flridulo inodiriarainc 
 
 Arundines interftrepat : 
 Sic, f\c 9 amoeno cinfte virtutum choro 
 
 Princeps, amabiliter mtes. 
 Ut mi.ximo labore, & arte maxima 
 
 Effingit artifex ebur, 
 Sic ad benignitatem arnica civiuin 
 
 Blande figuras peftora, 
 Ut delicata gemmulam expolit manus 
 
 Fulgore lucentem aureo, 
 
 Sic
 
 144 CARMINUM LIBER. 
 
 Sic civitatem mitium gaudes tuam 
 
 Ornare morum lumine. 
 O quani verenda micat in oculis lenitas ! 
 
 Minantur & rident fimul. 
 O quanta pulchro dignitas vultu patet, 
 
 Et quantus inceflu decor ! 
 Scilicet, amoeno cin&e virtutum choro 
 
 Prmceps, amabiliter nites. 
 Annon per omne, veris inftar, feculum 
 
 Memoria florefcet tui ? 
 
 II. ODE P E R S I C A. 
 
 JA M rofa purpureum caput explicat. Adfit, 
 Suavis voluptatum cohors : 
 
 Sic monuere fenes. 
 
 Nunc laeti fumus ; at citius laeta avolat aetas, 
 Quin facra mutemus mero 
 Stragula neftareo ?
 
 ODE P E R S t C A. 154 
 
 Dulce gemit zephyrus : ridentem mitte puellam, 
 Quam molli in amplexu tcnens 
 
 Pocula laeta bibam. 
 
 Tange chelyn. Saevit fortuna; at mitte querclas : 
 Cur non canoros barbiti 
 
 Elicimus modules ? 
 
 En! florum regina nitet rofa. Fundite vinij 
 Quod amoris extin^uat facem, 
 
 Netareos latices. 
 
 Suave loquens Philomela vocor : qul fiat ut umbril 
 Te&us rofarum nexili 
 (Veris avis) taceam ? 
 
 e&c$oc&c^c$oc^^ 
 
 HI. A L T E R A. 
 
 A F F E R fcyphos, & dulce ridentls mcri 
 
 Purpurcos latices 
 Effunde largius, puer. 
 Nam vinum amores lenit adolefccntium, 
 
 Difficilefque fenum 
 Emollit segritudines. 
 
 L Solera
 
 146 CARMINUM LIBER. 
 
 Solem merum aemulatur, & lunam calix ; 
 
 Neftareis foveat 
 Die luna folem ample xibus. 
 Flammas nitentes fparge : vini fcilicet 
 
 Fcrvidioris aquam 
 Flammje nitentis aemulam. 
 Quod fi rofarura fragilis avolat decor, 
 
 Sparge, puer, liquidas 
 Vini rubclccntis rofas. 
 Si devium Philomela deferit nemus, 
 
 Pocula lazta canant 
 Non elaboratum melos. 
 InjurioTa: fperiift fortunae mitas; 
 
 Laetacfue 'maeftitiam 
 Depellat informem chelys. 
 Somnus bcatos, fomnus amplexus dabit : 
 
 Pa mihi dulce merum 
 Somnutn quod alliciat levem, 
 Dulce eft madcre vino. Da calices novos, 
 
 Ut placida madidus 
 Oblivione perfruar. 
 Scyphum afFer alterum, puer, deinde alterum : 
 
 Seu vetitum fuerit, 
 Amice, feu licitum, bibam. 
 
 IV. ODE
 
 C 147 
 
 IV. ODE A R A B I C A. 
 
 TT\ U L C I triftitiam vino lavere, aut, nitente luna$ 
 
 Multa reclines in rosa 
 Urgere blandis ofculis puellas ; 
 Aut, dum prata levi pulfat pede delicata virgo 
 
 Comam renodans aufeam, 
 Molli cupidinis tepere flam ma : 
 Aut, dum blanda aures recrcat lyra, floreo Tub antrd 
 
 Ad fuave zephyrorum melos 
 Rore advocati fpargier foporis : 
 Haec ver purpureum dat gaudia, comis & juventaSj 
 
 His, mite dum tempus favet, 
 Decet vacare, <lumque ridet annus. 
 Quicunque aut rerum domini fumus, aut graves coati 
 
 Curas egeflatis pati, 
 Dftbemur afperce, Fabulle, morti. 
 
 V.
 
 148 CARMINUM LIBER. 
 
 V. AD L JE L I U M. 
 
 TrESTIMENTA tuis grata fororibus, 
 
 Et donem lapides, quos vel alit Tagi 
 Fluftus, vel celer unda 
 
 Ganges aurifera lavit, 
 Laeli, fi mea fit dives opum domus : 
 Quid mittam addubito. Scilicet haud mea 
 Servo carmina blandis 
 
 Nympharum auribus infolens, 
 Quarum tu potior pec~lora candidis 
 Mulces alloquiis, te potiorem amat 
 Mufa, utcunque puellae 
 
 Pulfas ^Eoliae fic'es. 
 Quin illis acies mittere commodus 
 Tornatas meditor, quae bicoloribus 
 Armis confpiciendce 
 
 Bella innoxia deftinant ; 
 
 Qiialis
 
 AD L & L I U M. 149 
 
 Quail's propter aquas aut Lacedaemoni 
 Eurotae gelidas, aut Tiberis vada, 
 Cornicum manus albis 
 
 Nigrans certat oloribus. 
 Cur non fub viridi ludimus ilicis 
 Umbra fuppofhi ? Die veniat genis 
 Ridens Lydia pulchris, 
 
 Et faltare decens Chloe : 
 Die reddant mihi me. Ludite, virgincs; 
 Me teftudineis aut Venerem modis 
 Dicente, autjuvenilis 
 Telum dulce Cupidinis. 
 
 VI. AD L U N A M; 
 
 CELI dulce nitens dccus. 
 Lenta lora manu, Cynthia, corripc : 
 Pulchrae teta peto Chloes, 
 Et labrum rofeo ncftarc fuavius. 
 
 L 3 Noa
 
 150 C A R M I N U M L I B E R, 
 
 Non praedator ut improbus, 
 Per fylvas propero, te duce, devias $ 
 
 Nee, dum lux radiat tua, 
 Ultricem meditor figere cufpidem. 
 
 Quern tu, mitis Amor, femel 
 Placatum tepida lenieris face, 
 
 Ilium deferuit furor, 
 Et telum facili decidit e manu. 
 
 Nee delila per & nefas 
 Furtiva immeritus gaudia perfequor; 
 
 Blanda vifta Chloe precc 
 Peplum rejiciet purpureum libens. 
 
 VII. AD VENEREM, 
 
 f~\ R O te teneri blanda Cupidini$ 
 
 Mater, coeruleis edits fiudibus, 
 Quse grati fruticeta accolis Idali, 
 I-Icrbofamque Amathunta, & viridem Cnidon, 
 OrOj Pyrrha, meis cedat amoribus, 
 Qua: nunc, Taenaria immitipr aefculo, 
 
 Mos renti
 
 A D V E N E fc E M. 151 
 
 . 
 
 Moerentis Licini follicitum melos 
 Ridet. Non liquidae carmine tibiae, 
 Non illam ^Eoliis illacrymabilem 
 Ple&ris dimoveat, lenis ut arduam 
 Cervicem tepidum fleftat ad ofculum, 
 (Quantum eft & vacuis ne&ar in ofculis f ) 
 Quod fi carminibus mitior applicet 
 Aures ilia meis, fi (rigidum gelu 
 Te folvente) pari me tepcat face, 
 Te propter liquidum fonticuli vitrum, 
 Ponam confpicuo marmore lucidam, 
 Te cantans Paphiam, teque Amatliufiam 
 Pcllam gramineum ter pede cefpitem, 
 Turn nigranti hedera & tempera laurea 
 Cingam, tune hilares eliciam modos : 
 At nunc me juvenum praetcreuntium 
 Me ridet comitum coetus amabilis ; 
 Et ludens puerorum in plateis cohors 
 Oftendit digitis me, quia langueo 
 Demiflis oculis, me, quia fomnia 
 Abrupta haud facili virgine faucium 
 Monftrant, & viola pallid ior gena. 
 
 L 4 AD
 
 t CARMINUM LIBER. 
 
 KftOPOftGOQlO^^ 
 
 T) ERFIDO ridens Eryrina vultu, 
 
 * 6eu Joci mater, lenerique Atnoris, 
 
 Seu Pa ( hi regina potcns, Cyprique 
 
 Laetior audis, 
 
 Lincjue jucundam C nidon, & corufcum 
 Dirigens currum levis hue vocanti, 
 JIuc veni, & tecum properet folutp 
 
 Crine Thalia. 
 
 Jam venis ! nubes placidi ferenas 
 Paffcres findunt ; fuper albicantes 
 Pum volant fylvas, celerefque verfant 
 
 Leniter alas. 
 
 Rurfus ad coelum fugiunt. Sed 
 Duke fubridens facie, loquelam 
 Melle conditam liquido jacentis 
 
 fundis in aurem,
 
 A D V E N E R E M. lS3 
 
 c < Qua tepes, inquis, Licini, puella, 
 " Lucidis venanti oculis amantes ? 
 C Cur doces moeftas refonare lucum, 
 
 <( Care, querelas ? 
 " Dona fi ridet tua, dona mittet; 
 " Sive te molli rofeos per hortos 
 " Hinnulo vitat levior, fequctur 
 
 " Tpfa fugacem." 
 Per tuos oro, dea mitis, ignes, 
 Pelus ingratae rigidum Corinnae 
 
 jLenias.' Et te, Venus alma, amorc 
 Forfit Adonis. 
 
 EX FERDUSII POET^E PERSICI 
 POEMATE HEROICO. 
 
 SAMUS, ut aurato cinftum diademate rcgem 
 Vidit ovans, excelfa ferebal acl atria greffum ; 
 Quern rex ad meritos facilis provexit honores, 
 Et fecum in folio jufiit conliderc eburneo, 
 
 Gdtto
 
 154 EXFERDUSII 
 
 Caelato mtilanti auro, infertifque pyropis. 
 Magnanimum afFatus turn blanda heroa loqucll, 
 Multa fuper fociis, fuper arm is multa rogabat, 
 Jam, quantos aleret tellus Hyrcana gigantas, 
 Jam, qua parta manu nova fit vi&oria Perils : 
 Cui dux haec memori parens eft voce locutus. 
 Venimus ad caftra hoftilis, rex maxime, gentis ; ; 
 Gens eft dura, ferox ; non afpera faevior errat 
 Per duroeta leo, non fylva tigris in atraj 
 Non equus in laetis Arabum it veLocior agris. 
 Cum fubito trepidam pervenit rumor in urbem 
 Adventare aciem, queruli per tefta, per arces, 
 Auditi gemitus, & non Izetabile murmur : 
 Ilicet srata fulgentes caffide turmas 
 Eduxere viri ; pars vaftos fufa per agros, 
 Pars monte in rigido, aut deprefla vallc fedebats 
 Horruit asre acies, tantasque a pulvere nubes 
 Exortae, ut pulchrum tegeret jubar atherius fol. 
 Quale in arenofo nigrarum colle laborat 
 Formicarum agmen, congeftaque farra reponit; 
 Aut qualis culicum leviter ftridentibus alis 
 Turba volans, tenucs ciet importuna fufurros ; 
 Tales profiteers. Nepos ante agmina Salmi 
 Cerciu* emicuit, quo non fuit ardua pinus 
 
 Altior,
 
 POEMATEEPICO. 155 
 
 Altior, aut vernans excelfo in monte cupreffus. 
 
 At Perfarum artus gelida formidine folvi 
 
 Arguit & tremor, & laxato in corporc pallor : 
 
 Hoc vidi, &valido torquens haftiie lacerto 
 
 Per medias juffi, duce me, penetrare phalangas j 
 
 Irruit alatus fonipes, ceu torvus in arvis 
 
 ./Ethiopum latis elephas, neque fenfit habenam : 
 
 Militibus vires rediere, & priftina virtus. 
 
 Ac velut, undantis cum furgant flumina Nili, 
 
 Et refluant, avidis baud injucunda colonis, 
 
 Pinguia frugiferis implentur fluctibus arva; 
 
 Sic terra innumeris agitata eft ilia catervis : 
 
 Cum ftrepitum audierit noftrum, ingentemque fragorera 
 
 Findentis galeas & ferrea fcuta bipennis, 
 
 Ccrcius, horrifico complens loca vafta boatu, 
 
 In me flexit equum, me crudeli enfe petebat, 
 
 Captivumque arlo voluit conftringere nodo : 
 
 Fruftra ; nam, lunans habilem nee fegniter arcum, 
 
 Populeas mifi duro mucrone fagittas, 
 
 Flammarum ritu, aut per nubila fulminSs acli : 
 
 Ille tamen celeri ruit impete, nofque morantes 
 
 Increpitat, letum mini tana, rigidafve catenas : 
 
 Ut verb acceflit violent! turbinis inftar, 
 
 Pulfus ut & clypcus clypeo eft, & caffide caflis 
 
 Ilium
 
 JS6 EXFERDUSIO. 
 
 Ilium infurgentem, dirumque infligerc vulnus 
 Conantem, arripui, qua difcolor ilia cinxit 
 Balteus, & rutilis fubnexa eft fibula baccis. 
 Strenua turn valido molimine brachia verfans 
 E ftratis evulfi equitem, qui pronus, inermis, 
 Decidit, & rabido frendens campum ore momordit; 
 Peflora cui nivea, & ferrata culpide coftas 
 Transfodi, madidam defluxit fanguis in herbam 
 Purpureus, triftifque elapfa eft vita fub umbras. 
 Haud mora, diffugiunt hoftes, dulore perempto, 
 Saxa per & colles ; noftris vi&oria turmis 
 Affulfit, cxlbfque doles, Hyrcania, natos. 
 Sic pereant, quicunque tuo, rex optime, fceptro, 
 Qui premis imperio ftellas, parere recufent! 
 Dixit; & heroas Perfarum rclor ovantes 
 Laudibus in ccelum tollit; jubet inde beatas 
 Inftaurari cpulas, & pocula dulcia poni : 
 Conventum eft a textoque fuper difcumbitur auro. 
 
 ELEGIA
 
 FULGUR an e densa vibratum nube corufcat? 
 An rofeas nudat Leila pudica genas ? 
 Bacciferumne celer fruticetum clevorat ignis? 
 
 Siderea an Solimae lumina dulce micant ? 
 Nardus an Hageri, an Ipirant violaria Mecca;, 
 
 Candida odoriieris an vcnit Azza comis ? 
 Quam juvat ah ! patrios memori tenuifle receflus 
 
 Mente, per ignotos clum vagor exul agros ? 
 Vallc fub umbrofa, pallcns ubi luget amator, 
 
 Num colit alTuetos mollis arnica lares? 
 Jamne cient raucum prasfracla tonitrua murmur 
 
 Montibus, effufa; quos rigat imber aquae ? 
 An tua, dum fundit primum lux alma ruborem, 
 
 Lympha, Azibe, meam pellet, ut ante, fitirn t 
 
 * 
 
 Quot mea felices vidiftis gaudia, campi, 
 Gaudia vae ! mifero non renovanda mihi ? 
 
 Ecquis apud Nagcdi lucos aut palcua Tudae 
 Paftor amatorum fpefque metufque canit ? 
 
 .quit
 
 15* E L E G I A. 
 
 Ecquis ait, gelicla Salae dum valle recumbitj 
 
 " Heu ! quid Cademeo in monte fodalis agit 
 Num graciles rident hyemalia frigora myrti ? 
 
 Num viret in folitis lotos atnata locis ? 
 Num vernant humilcs in aprico colic myricae ? 
 
 Ne malus has oculus, ne mala laedat hyems ! 
 An mea Alegiades, dulciffima turba, pucllae 
 
 Curant, an Zephyris irrita vota dabunt ? 
 An viridem faliunt, nullo venante, per hortunl 
 
 Hinnuleique citi, capreolique leves ? 
 Vifamne umbriferos, loca dile&iffima, faltus, 
 
 Ducit ubi facilem lasta Noama chorum ? 
 Num Daregi ripas patula tegit arbutus umbra, 
 
 Ah ! quoties lacrymis humida fala meis ? 
 Grata quis antra colit, nobis abfentibus, Amri^ 
 
 Antra puellarum quam bene nota gregi ? 
 Forfan amatores Meccana in valle reduftos 
 
 Abfentis Solimae commeminifle juvat. 
 Tempus erit, levibus quo pervigilata cachinnis 
 
 Nox dabit unanimi gaudia plena chore; 
 Quo dulces juvenum fpirabit coetus amore, 
 
 Et laetos avida combibet aure modos. 
 
 FABUI.A
 
 FABULA PERSIC A, 
 
 T) I G ANTE molles imbre campos Perfidis, 
 
 * *- E nube in asquor lapfa pluviae guttula eft ; 
 
 Quae, ciim reluftans cloqui finerct pudor, 
 
 ** Quid hoc loci ? inquit, quid rei mifella fura ? 
 
 " Quo me repente, ah! quo redaftam fentior" 
 
 Cum fe verccundanti animula fperneret, 
 
 Illam recepit geinmeo concha in finu ; 
 
 Tandemque tenuis aquula fafta eft unio; 
 
 Nunc in corona lasta Regis emicat, 
 
 Sibi non placere quanta fit virtus, docens. 
 
 AD
 
 160 
 
 AD M U S A M. 
 
 "T T A L E, Camena, blanda cultrix ingeni, 
 
 * Virtutis altrix, mater eloquentiae 1 
 Linquenda alumno eft laurus & chelys tuo ; 
 At tu dearum dulcium dukiffima, 
 Scu Suada mavis five Pitho dicier, 
 A te receptus in tua vi v am fide : 
 Mihi fit, oro, non inutiiis toga, 
 Ncc indiferta lingua, nee turpis manus 
 
 E S S A Y S
 
 ESSAYS,
 
 C^bC^cJOC^C^C&ofc^C^ 
 
 ):^;:o:m-:e:o:^^>:(>e:-K{>K*:^>:t^>Xr:o^^^v 
 
 *S&t&$x#a0^^ 
 
 On the Poetry of the Eaftern Nations. 
 
 /j R A B I A y I mean that part of it, which we call 
 the Happy i and which the Afia ticks know by the 
 name of Temen, feems to be the only country in the 
 world, in which we can properly lay the fcene of paftoral 
 poetry ; becaufe no nation at this day can vie with the 
 Arabians in the delightfulnefs of their climate, and the 
 
 O * 
 
 fimplicity of their manners. There is a valley, indeed, 
 to the north of Indoftan, called Ctifrmere, which, ac- 
 cording to an account written by a native of it, is a per- 
 feft garden, exceedingly fruitful, and watered by a 
 thoufand rivulets : but when its inhabitants were fubducd 
 by theftratagem of a Mogul prince, they loft their hap- 
 pinels with their liberty, and /Jralla retained its old 
 thlc without any rival to difpute it. Thele are not the 
 
 M 2.- fancies
 
 164 E S S A Y T. 
 
 fancies of a poet : the beauties of Yemen are proved by 
 the concurrent teftimony of all travellers, by the defcrip- 
 tions of them in all the writings of Afia, and by the na- 
 ture and fituation of the country itfelf, which lies between 
 the eleventh and fifteenth degrees of northern latitude, 
 undes a ferene Iky, and expofed to the moft favourable 
 influence of the fun; it is enclofed on one fide by vaft 
 rocks and deferts, and defended on the other by a fem- 
 peftuous fea, fo that it feems to have been defigned by 
 providence for the moft fecure, as well as the moft beau- 
 tiful, region of the Eaft. I am at a lofs to conceive, 
 what induced the illuftrious Prince Cantemir to contend 
 that Yemen is properly a part of India ; for, not to men- 
 tion Ptolemy, and the other ancients, who confidered it 
 as a province of Arabia, nor to infift on the language of 
 the country, which is pure Arabick, it is defer i bed by 
 the Afiaticks themfelves as a large divifion of that penin- 
 fula, which they call Je-zciratul Arab ; and there is no 
 more colour for annexing it to India, becaufe the fea, 
 which wafhes one lide of it, is looked upon by fome 
 writers as belonging to the great Indian ocean, than there 
 would be for annexing it to Perjla, becaufe it is bounded 
 on another fide by the Perjian gulf. Its principal cities 
 are Sanaa, ufually confidered as its metropolis ; Zebid, 
 2. commercial town, that lies in a large plain near the 
 fea of Omman; and Aden, furrounded with pleafant 
 gardens and woods, which is fituated eleven degrees from 
 the Equator, and feventy-fix from the Fortunate I/lands, 
 or Canaries^ where the geographers of Afia fix their fail 
 
 meridian.
 
 ESSAY I. 165 
 
 meridian. It is obfervable that Aden, in the Eaftcrn 
 dialects, is precifely the fame word with Eden, which 
 we apply to the garden of paradife : it has two fenfes, 
 according to a flight difference in its pronunciation; it* 
 fail meaning is a fettled abode^ its fecond, delight, foftnefs, 
 or tranquillity: the word Eden had, probably, one of 
 thefe fenfes in the facred text, though we ufe it as a 
 proper name. We may alib obferve in this place that 
 Temen itfelf takes its name from a word, which fignifies 
 verdure, and felicity ; for in thofe fultry climates, the 
 frefhnefs of the fhade, and the coolnefs of water, are 
 ideas almoft infeparable from that of happinefs ; and 
 this may be a reafon why moil of the Oriental nations 
 agree in a tradition concerning a delightful fpot, where 
 the firft inhabitants of the earth were placed before their 
 fall. The ancients, who gave the name of Eudaimon, 
 or Happy, to this country, either meaned to tranflate the 
 word Temen, or, more probably, only alluded to the 
 valuable fpice-trees, and balfamick plants, that grow in 
 it, and, without fpeaking poetically, give a real perfume 
 to the air : the writer of an old hiftory of the Turkijh 
 empire fays, " The air of Egypt fometimes infummer is like 
 " any fweet perfume, and almcfl fuffacates the fpirits, caufed 
 11 by the wind that brings the odours of the Arabian fpices :" 
 now it is certain that all poetry receives a very confide- 
 rable ornament from the beauty of natural images ; as 
 the rofes of Sharcn, the verdure of Carmcl, the vines of 
 Engaddi, and the dew of Herman, are the fources of 
 many pleafmg metaphors and comparifons in the facred 
 
 M 3 poet
 
 166 E S S A Y I. 
 
 poetry : thus the odours of Yemen, the mufk of Hadra- 
 mut, and the pearls of Lmman, fupply the Arabian poets 
 with a ^reat . variety of alluiions; and, if the remark of 
 Hermogenes be juft, that whatever is delightful to thefen/ei 
 produces the Beautiful when it is defcribed, where can 
 we find fo much beauty as in the Eajlern poems, v, hich 
 turn chiefly upon the lovelieft objefts in nature ? 
 
 To purfue this topick yet farther : it is an obferva- 
 tion of Demetrius Phatereus, in his elegant treatifc upon 
 fty'e, that it is not eafy to write on agreeable fubje&s in 
 a clifagreeable manner, and that beautiful exprejffions na- 
 turally rile with beautiful images; for which reafsn, fays 
 he, nothing can be more Chafing than Sappho's poetry, which 
 contains the defcription of gardens, and banquets, flowers 
 and fruits, fountains and meadows, nightingales and turtle- 
 doves, loves and graces : thus, when fhe ipeaks of a jlream 
 foftly murmuring among the branches, and the Zephyrs play- 
 ing through the /eaves, with a found that brings en a quiet 
 ftumber, her lines flow without labour as fmoothly as the 
 rivulet fhe defcribes. I may have aitered the words of 
 Demetrius, as I quote them by memory, but this is the 
 general fenfe of his remark, which, if it be not rather 
 fpecious than juft, muft induce us to think, that the poets 
 of the Ea/? may vie with thofe of Europe in the graces of 
 their ditiion, as well as in the lovelinefs of their images : 
 but we muft not believe that the Arabian poetry can pleafe 
 only l-.y its defcriptions of beauty, fince the gloomy and 
 terrible objedls, which produce the fublimc 9 when they 
 
 ate
 
 E S S A Y I. 167 
 
 are aptly defcribed, are no where more common than in 
 the Defe-rt and Stony Arabia's ; and, indeed, we fee no- 
 thing fo frequently painted by the poets of thofe coun- 
 tries, as wolves and lions, precipices and forefls, rocks 
 and vvilderneffes. 
 
 If we allow the natural objects, with which the Arabs 
 are perpetually converfant, to be fublime, and beautiful^ 
 our nexc flep muft be, to confefs that their comparifons, 
 metaphors, and allegories are fo likewife ; for an allegory 
 is only a firing of metaphors, a metaphor is only a fhort 
 fimile, and the finer}, limiles are drawn from natural ob- 
 jects. It is true that many of the Eajlern figures are 
 common to other nations, but fome of them receive a 
 propriety from the manners of the Arabians, who dwell 
 in the plains and woods, which would be loft, if ^hey 
 came from the inhabitants of cities : thus the dew of 
 liberality, and the odour of reputation, are metaphors ufed 
 by moft people; but they are wonderfully proper in the 
 mouths of thofe, who have fo much need of being re- 
 frefhed by the deius, and who gratify their fenfe of fmell- 
 ing with the fweetefl odours in the world. Again ; it is 
 very ufual in all countries to make frequent allufions to 
 the brightnefs of the celeftial luminaries, which give 
 their light to all ; but the metaphors taken from them 
 have an additional beauty, if we confider them as made 
 by a nation, who pafs mofl of their nights in the open 
 air, or in tents, and confequently fee the moon and flars 
 in their greateft fplendour. This way of confidering 
 
 M 4 their
 
 68 E S S A Y I. 
 
 their poetical figures will give many of them a grace, 
 which they would not have in our languages : fo, when 
 they compare the foreheads of their mi/lrej/es to the morning, 
 their locks to the night, their facet to the fun, to the moon, 
 or the bloffoms of j of mine, their cheeks to rofes or ripe fruit, 
 their teeth to pearls, hail-Jlones, and fnow-drops, their eyes 
 to the flowers of the narcijjus, their curled hair to black f cor - 
 pions and to hyacinths, their lips to rubies cr wine, the 
 form of their breafls to pomegranates, and the colour sf them 
 to fnow, their Jhape to that of a pine-tree, and their Jlature 
 to that of a fyprefs, a palm-tree, or a javelin, &c. thefe 
 companions, many of which would feem forced in our 
 idioms, have undoubtedly a great delicacy in theirs, and 
 afFet their minds in a peculiar manner ; yet upon the 
 tvhole their fimiles are very juft and ftriking, as that of 
 the blue eyes of a fine woman, bathed in tears, to violets 
 dropping with dew, and that of a warriour, advancing at 
 the head of his army, to an eagle failing through the air^ 
 and piercing the clouds with his wings, 
 
 Thefe are not the only advantages, which the natives 
 of Arabia enjoy above the inhabitants of rnoft other 
 countries; they prefcrve to this day the manners and 
 <-uftoms of their anceftcrs, who, by their own account, 
 were fettled in the province of Yemen above three thou- 
 fand years ago: they have never been wholly fubdued by 
 any nation ; and though the admiral of Selim the Firjl 
 made adefcent on their coaft, and exacted a tribute from 
 the people of Aden, yet the Arabians only keep up a {how 
 
 of
 
 E S S A Y I. i6g 
 
 of allegiance to the fultan, and aft, on every impor- 
 tant occafion, in open defiance of his power, relying on 
 the fwiftnefs of their horfes, and the vaft extent of their 
 forefts, in which an invading enemy mufl foon perifh : 
 but here I muft be undcrftood to fpeak of thole Arabians t 
 who, like the old Nomades, dwell conftantly in their 
 tents, and remove from place to place according to the 
 feafons; for the inhabitants of the cities, who traffick 
 with the merchants of Europe in fpices, perfumes, and 
 coffee, muft have loft a great deal of their ancient fim- 
 plicity : the others have, certainly, retained it ; and, 
 except when their tribes are engaged in war, fpend their 
 days in watching their flocks and camels, or in repeating 
 their native fongs, which they pour out almoft extem- 
 pore, profeffing a contempt for the {lately pillars, and 
 folemn buildings of the cities, compared with the natu- 
 ral charms of the country, and the coolnefs of their 
 tents : thus they pafs their lives in the higheft pleafure 
 of which they have any conception, in the contempla- 
 tion of the moil delightful objects, and in the enjoyment 
 of perpetual fpring ; for we may apply to part of Arabia 
 that elegant couplet of Waller in his poem of the Sum- 
 mer ijland, 
 
 The gentle fpring, that but falutcs us here, 
 Inhabits there, and courts them all the year. 
 
 Yet the heat of the fun, which muft be very intcnlc 
 in a climate fo near the line, is tempered by the ihauc 
 
 01
 
 170 E S S A Y I. 
 
 of the trees, that overhang the valleys, and by a 
 number of frefh ft reams, that flow down the moun- 
 tains: hence it is, that almoft all their notions of felicity 
 are taken from frejhnefs, and verdure ; and it is a maxim 
 am ng them that the three moft charming objefts in 
 nature are, a green meadow, a clear rivulet, and a beau- 
 tiful woman, and that the view of thefe objects at the 
 fame time affords the greateft delight imaginable. Maho- 
 med was fo well acquainted with the maxim of his coun- 
 trymen, that he defcribed the pleafures of heaven to them, 
 under the allegory of cool fountains, green bowers, and 
 black-eyed girls, as the word Houri literally iignifies in 
 drabick ; and in the chapter of the Morning, towards the 
 end of his dlcoran, he mentions a garden, called Irem, 
 which is no lefs celebrated by the dfiatuk poets than that 
 of the Hefperides by the Greeks: it was planted, as the 
 commentators fay, by a king, named Shedad, and was 
 once feen by an Arabian, who wandered very far into 
 the deferts in fearch of a loft camel : it was, probably, a 
 name invented by the impoftor, as a type of a future 
 flate of happinefs. Now it is certain that the genius 
 of every nation is not a little affecled by their climate ; 
 for, whether it be that the immoderate heat difpofes the 
 Eaftern people to a life of indolence, which gives them 
 full leifure to cultivate their talents, or whether the 
 fun has a real influence on the imagination, (as one 
 would fuppofe that the ancients believed, by their making 
 Apollo the god of poetry) whatever be the caufe, it has 
 
 always
 
 ESSAY 1. 171 
 
 always been remarked, that the Afiatlcks excel the inha- 
 bitants of our colder regions in the livelinefs of their 
 fancy, and the richnefs of their invention. 
 
 To carry this fubjeft one ftep farther : as the Arabians 
 are fuch admirers of beauty^ and as they enjoy fuch eafe 
 and leifure, they muft naturally be fufceptible of that 
 pa/fion, which is the true fpring and fburce of agreeable 
 poetry ; and we find, indeed, that lave has a greater fhare 
 in their poems than any other paffion : it feems to be al- 
 ways uppermoft in their minds, and there is hardly an 
 elegy, a panegyrick, or even a fatire, in their language, 
 which does not begin with the complaints of an unfortu- 
 nate, or the exultations of a fuccefsful, lover. It fome- 
 times happens, that the young men of one tribe are in 
 love with the damfcls of another ; and, as the tents are 
 frequently removed on a fudden, the lovers are often le- 
 parated in the progrefs of the courtfliip: hence almoft all 
 the Arabick poems open in this manner; the author be- 
 wails the fudden departure of his miftrefs, Hinda, Maia, 
 Zeineb, or Azza, and defcribes her beauty, comparing her 
 ufually to a wanton fawn, that plays among the aromatick 
 ftirubs ; his friends endeavour to comfort him, but he re- 
 fufes confolation; he declares his refolution of vifiting 
 his beloved, though the way to her tribe lie through a 
 dreadful vvildernefs, or even through a den of lions; here 
 he commonly gives a defcription of the horfe or camel, 
 upon which he defigns to go, and thence pafles, by an 
 eafy tranfition, to the principal fubject of his poem, whe- 
 ther
 
 172 W S S A Y I. 
 
 ther it be the praife of his own tribe, or a fa tire on the 
 timidity of his friends, who refufe to attend him in his 
 expedition; though very frequently the piece turns wholly 
 upon love. But it is not fufficient that a nation have a 
 genius for poetry, unlefs they have the advantage of a 
 rich and beautiful language, that their expreffions may be 
 worthy of their fentiments; the Arabians have this advan- 
 tage allb in a high degree : their language is expreffive, 
 ftrong, fonorous, and the moft copious, perhaps, in the 
 world; for, as almoft every tribe had many words ap- 
 propriated to itfelf, the poets, for the convenience of 
 their meafure, or fometimes for their fingular beauty, 
 made ufc of them all, and, as the poems became popular, 
 thefe words were by degrees incorporated with the whole 
 language, like a number of little ftreams, which meet to- 
 gether in one channel, and, forming a moft plentiful 
 river, flow rapidly into the fea. 
 
 If this way of arguing a priori be admitted in the pre- 
 fent cafe, (and no iingle man has a right to infer the merit 
 of the Eajlern poetry from the poems themfelves, becaufe 
 no fingle man has a privilege of judging for all the reft), 
 if the foregoing argument have any weight, we muft con- 
 clude that the Arabians^ being perpetually converfant 
 with the moft beautiful objefts, fpending a calm and 
 agreeable life in a fine climate, being extremely addicted 
 to the fofter paflions, and having the advantage of a lan- 
 guage fingularly adapted to poetry, muft be naturally ex- 
 cellent poets, provided that their manners and cujlomt be 
 
 favourable
 
 E S S A Y I. 173 
 
 favourable to the cultivation of that art ; and that they 
 are highly fo, it will not be difficult to prove. 
 
 The fondnefs of the Arabians for poetry, and the re- 
 fpeft which they fhow to poets, would be fcarce believed, 
 if we were not allured of it by writers of great authority : 
 the principal occafions of rejoicing among them were for- 
 merly, and, very probably, are to this day, the birth of a 
 boy, the foaling of a mare, the arrival of a gueft, and the 
 rife of a poet in their tribe : when a young Arabian has 
 compofed a good poem, all the neighbours pay their com- 
 pliments to his family, and congratulate them upon 
 having a relation capable of recording their actions, and 
 of recommending their virtues to pofterity. At the 
 beginning of the feventh century, the Arablck language 
 was brought to a high degree of perfection by a fort of 
 poetical academy, that ufed to affemble at ftated times, 
 in a place called Ocadh^ where every poet produced his 
 beft competition, and was fure to meet with the applaule 
 that it deferved : the moft excellent of thefe poems were 
 tranfcribed in characters of gold upon Egyptian paper, and 
 hung up in the temple of Mecca, whence they were 
 named Modhabebat, Q\ Golden^ and Moallakat^ or Sufpended : 
 the poems of this fort were called CaJJeidat or eclogues, 
 * feven of which are preferred in our libraries, and are 
 coniidered as the fineft that were written before the time 
 
 * I have a fine copy of thefe feven poems, clearly tranfcribed 
 with explanatory notes: the names of the feven poets are, 
 jttnralkeh, Tarafa, Zobeir t Lelid t Antara, Amnt, and Haretli. 
 
 of
 
 174 ESS AY I. 
 
 of Mahomed : the fourth of them, compofecl by Lebid, is 
 purely paftoral, and extremely like the Alexis of Virgil^ 
 but far more beautiful, becaufe it is more agreeable to 
 nature : the poet begins with praifing the charms of the 
 fair Novara, (a word which in Arabick fignifies a timorous 
 fawn,) but inveighs againft her unkindnefs; he then in- 
 terweaves a defcription of his young camel, which he 
 compares for its fwiftnefs to a flag, purfued by the 
 hounds; and takes occalioh afterwards to mention his 
 own riches, accomplifhments, liberality, and valour, his 
 noble birth, and the glory of his tribe : the di&ion of 
 this poem is eafy and fimple, yet elegant, the numbers 
 flowing and mufical, and the lentiments wonderfully na- 
 tural; as the learned reader will fee by the following 
 paflage, which I fhall attempt to imitate in verfe, that 
 the merit of the poet may not be wholly loll in a verbal 
 tranflation : 
 
 Bel enti la tadrina cam mi'/Iei/atin, 
 fbalkin ledhidbin labwoha wa nedamoba, 
 Kad bitto fameroba, wa gbayati tajerin 
 Wafaito idb rofiat, wa azza medamoka f 
 Befabuhi fafiatin wajadhbi carinatin y 
 "Be mowatterin, taata lebo maan ibbamobay 
 Bacarto bajatahd ddajaji befobratin, 
 Leoalla minba beina babba neyamoha. 
 
 But
 
 ESSAY I. 175 
 
 Sat ah! thou knovjjl not in what youthful play 
 
 Our nights, beguifd with pleafure, fwam away ; 
 
 Gay fongs, and cheerful tales, deceit? d the time, 
 
 And circling goblets made a tuneful chime ; 
 
 Siveet was the draught, and fweet the blooming tnaid, 
 
 Who touch* d her lyre beneath the fragrant ]hade'> 
 
 JVefipd till morning purpled every plain ; 
 
 The dam f els Jlumber'd, but weji^d again : 
 
 The waking birds, that fung on every tree 
 
 'Their early notes, were not ft blithe as we. 
 
 The Mahomedan writers tell a ftory of this poet, which 
 deferves to be mentioned here : it was a cuftom, it feems 
 among the old Arabians, for the moft eminent verfitiers 
 to hang up fomc chofen couplets on the gate of the tern- 
 pie, as a publick challenge to their brethren, who flrove 
 to anfvwer them before the next meeting at Ocadh, at 
 which time the whole affembly ufed to determine the 
 merit of them all, and gave fome mark of tlifHn&ion to 
 the author of the fmeft verfes. Now Lebid, who, we 
 are told, had been a violent oppofer of Mahomed, fixed a 
 poem on the gate, beginning with the following diftich, 
 in which he apparently meaned to reflect upon the new 
 religion : 
 
 lla cullo fljeion ma khala Allah bathilsn, 
 IVa ctdlo naiman la mihaloho xailon. 
 
 That
 
 176 E S S A Y 1. 
 
 That is; Are not all things vain, which come not from God? 
 and will not all honours decay, but thofc, which He confers ? 
 Thefe lines appeared fo fublime, that none of the poets 
 ventured to anfwer them; till Mahomed, who was himfelf 
 a poet, having compofed a new chapter of his Alcoran, (the 
 fecond, I think,) placed the opening of it by the fide 
 of Lebid's poem, who no fooner read it, than he declared 
 it to be fomething divine, confefied his own inferiority, 
 tore his verfes from the gate, and embraced the religion 
 of his rival ; to whom he was afterwards extremely ufe- 
 ful in replying to the fatires of Amralkeis, who was con- 
 tinually attacking the doftrine of Mahomed: the Afiaticks 
 add, that their lawgiver acknowledged fome time after, 
 that no heathen poet had ever produced a nobler diflich 
 than that of Lebid]\&. quoted. 
 
 There are a few other collections of ancient Arabick 
 poetry; but the moft famous of them is called HamaJJa, 
 and contains a number of epigram;, odes, and elegies, com- 
 pofed on various occafions : it was compiled by Abu Te- 
 mam, who was an excellent poet himfelf, and ufed to fay, 
 \\w\. fine fentiments delivered in profe were like gems f cotter ed 
 at random, but that, when they were confined in a poetical 
 meafure, they refembled bracelets, andjirings of pearls. When 
 the religion and language of Mahomed were fpread over 
 the greater part of Afia, and the maritime countries of 
 Africa, it became a fafhion for the poets of Perfia, Syria, 
 Egypt, Mauritania, and even of Tartary, to write in 
 Arab\ck\ and the moft beautiful verfes in that idiom, 
 
 compofed
 
 E S S A Y I. 177 
 
 fcOmpofecl by the brighteft genius's of thofe nations, 
 are to be feen in a large miicellany, entitled Yateima\ 
 though many of tin ir works are tranfcribed feparately : 
 it will be needlefs to fay much on the poetry of the 
 Syrians^ Tartarians, and Africans, fince mod of the argu- 
 ments, before ufccl in favour of the Ar'abs, have equal 
 weight with refpeft to the other Mahoinedans, who have 
 clone little more than imitate their ftyle, and adopt their 
 exprcffions ; for which reafon alib I fliall dwell the 
 fhorter time on the genius and manners of the Perfians, 
 j and Indians. 
 
 The great empire, which We call Per/ia, is known to 
 its natives by the name of Iran ; fince the word Perfia, 
 belongs only to a particular province, the ancient Perfis, 
 and is very improperly applied by us to the whole king- 
 dom : but, in compliance with the cuftom of our geogra- 
 phers, I fliall give the name of Perjja to that celebrated 
 country, which lies on one fide between the Cafplan and 
 Indian leas, and extends on the other from the mountains 
 of Candahar, or Paropamifus, to the continence of the 
 rivers Cyrus and Araxes, containing about twenty deg r ees 
 frum fouth to north, and rather more from eaft to weft. 
 
 In fo vaft a tral of land there muft needs be a great 
 variety of climates : the fouthern provinces are no lefs 
 unhealthy and fultry, than thofe of the north are rude 
 and unpleafant ; but in the interiour parts of the empire 
 the air is mild and temperate, and from the beginning of 
 
 N May
 
 i 7 8 E S S A Y I. 
 
 May to September, there is fcarce a cloud to be feen in 
 the iky : the remarkable calmnefs of the fummer nights, 
 and the wonderful fplendourof the moon and ftars in that 
 country, often tempt the Perfians to fleep on the tops of 
 their houfes, which are generally flat, where they cannot 
 but obferve the figures of the conftellations, and the va- 
 rious appearances of the heavens ; and this may in fome 
 meafure account for the perpetual allufions of their poets, 
 and rhetoricians, to the beauty of the heavenly bodies. 
 We are apt to cenfure the oriental ftyle for being fo full 
 of metaphors taken from the fun and moon : this isafcri- 
 bed by fome to the bad tafle of the dfiaticks ; the works of 
 the Perjians, fays M. de Voltaire ', are like the titles of their 
 kings , in which the fun and moon are often introduced: but 
 they do not refleft that every nation has a fet of images, 
 and exprefiions, peculiar to itfelf, which arife from the 
 difference of its climate, manners, and hiftory. There 
 feems to be another reafon for the frequent allufions of the 
 Perjians to the fun, which may, perhaps, be traced from. 
 the old language and popular religion of their country : 
 thus Mibriddd, or Mitbridates, fignifies the gift of the fun, 
 and anfwers to the Theodoras and Dicdati of other nations. 
 As to the titles of the Eafiern monarchs, which feem, in- 
 deed, very extravagant to our ears, they are merely for- 
 mal, and no lefs void of meaning than thofe of European 
 princes, in which ferenity and higbnefs are often, attributed 
 to the moil gloomy ', and low-minded of men. 
 
 The
 
 fe 5 S A Y I. 179 
 
 The midland provinces of Pcrfia abound in fruitg 
 find flowers of almoft every kind, and, with proper cul- 
 ture, might be made the garden of Afia : they are not 
 Watered, indeed, by any considerable fiver, fince the 
 Tigris and Euphrates, the Cyrus and Araxes, the Oxus, and 
 the five branches of the Indus, are at the fartheft limits of 
 the kingdom ; but the natives, who have a turn for agri- 
 culture, fupply that defecl by artificial canals, which fuf- 
 ficiently temper the drynefs of the foil : but in faying 
 they fupply thatdefeft, I am falling into a common errour^ 
 and reprefenting the country, not as it is at prefent, but 
 as it was a century ago ; for a long feries of civil wars and 
 maffacres have now deflroyed the chief beauties of Per/la, 
 by ftripping it of its moll induftrious inhabitants* 
 
 The fame difference of climate, that affefts the air and 
 foil of this extenfive country, gives a variety allb to the 
 perfons and temper of its natives : in fome provinces they 
 have dark complexions, arid harfh features ; in others 
 they are exquifitely fair, and well-made ; in fome others,- 
 nervous and robuft : but the general character of the na- 
 tion is that foft Kefs, and love of pleafure, that indolence^ 
 and effeminacy, which have made them an eafy prey to alt 
 the weflern and northern fwarms, that have from time to' 
 time invaded them. Yet they are riot wholly void of 
 martial fpirit; and, if they are not naturally brave, they 
 are at leaft extremely docile, and might, with proper 
 difcipline, be made excellent foldiers : but the greater 
 
 N z part
 
 i8o ESSAY I. 
 
 part of them, in the ftiort intervals of peace that they 
 happen to enjoy, conftantly fink into aftate of inactivity, 
 and pafs their lives in a pleafurable, yet ftudious, retire- 
 ment; and this may be one reafon, why Perfia has pro- 
 duced more writers of every kind, and chiefly poets, than 
 all Europe together, flnce their way of life gives them 
 leifure to purfue thofe arts, which cannot be cultivated 
 to advantage, xvithout the greateft calrnnefs. and fcrcnity 
 of mind : and this, by the way, is- one caufe, among 
 many others, why the poems in the preceding collection 
 are lefs finifhecl ; fince they were compofed, not in bowers 
 and fhades, by the fide of rivulets or fountains, but 
 either amldft the confufion of a metropolis, the hurry of 
 travel, the diflipation of publick places, the avocations 
 of more necefiary ftudies, or the attention to more ufe- 
 ful parts of literature. To return : there is a manufcript 
 at Oxford* containing the lives of an hundred and thirty 
 Jive of the fine ft Perfian poets, moil of whom left very 
 ample collections of their poems behind them : but the 
 verfifiers, and moderate poets, if Horace will allow any 
 fuch men to exift, are without number in Perfia. 
 
 This delicacy of their lives and fentiments has infenfi- 
 bly affected their language, and rendered it the Ibfteft, as 
 it is one of the richcft, in tru- world ; it is not poffible to 
 convince the reader of this truth, by quoting a paflage 
 from a Perfian poet in European characters ; fince the 
 
 * In Hyperoo Bcxll. 128. There is a prefatory clifcourfe to this 
 curious work, wliich comprises the lives of ten Arabian poets. 
 
 ivveetnefs
 
 E S S A Y I. 181 
 
 fweetnefs of found cannot be determined by the fight, 
 and many words, which are foft and muikal in the mouth 
 of a Per/ian, may appear very harfh to our eyes, with a 
 number of confonants and gutturals : it may not, how- 
 ever, be abfurd to fet down in this place, an Ode of the 
 poet Hafez, which, if it be not fufficient to prove the 
 delicacy of his language, will at leaft fhow the livelinefs 
 of his poetry : 
 
 Al bad nenmi ydr dari t 
 Z<3 nefbe'i mujbcodr dari : 
 Zinbar mecun diraz-dejli ! 
 Ba turret o che car dari ? 
 At guly to cujd wa, ruyi ze'ibajh ? 
 O taza, wa to kharbdr dari. 
 Nerkes, to cvja iva cbe/hmi meftefo ? 
 ferkbojb, wa to kbumdr dari. 
 At feruy to ba kaddi buiendcjb^ 
 Der bagb cbe iytebdr dari ? 
 Al akl, to ba wujudi ijhkejb 
 Der deft che ikbtiyar dari ? 
 Ribariy to cujd wa khatti febzejh ? 
 O mujhc, wa to ghubar dari. 
 Ruzi burefi bewajli Hafez, 
 Gber takati yntizdr dari. 
 
 N 3 That
 
 ESSAY!, 
 
 That is, word for word : O fweet gale, thou leanji tin 
 fragrant fcent of my beloved; thence it is that thou haft this 
 ntujky odour. Beware ! do not Jleal : what haft thou to do 
 with her treffes ? O rofe, what art thou, to be compared with 
 her bright face ? She is frejh, and thou art rough with 
 thorns. O narcijjus, what art thou in comparifon of her lan- 
 guijhing eye ? Her eye is only .Jleepy, but thou art fick and 
 faint. O pine, compared with her graceful Ji at ure, what 
 honour haft thou in the garden ? O wifdom, what wouldjl 
 thou choofe, if to choofe were in thy power, in preference to 
 her hve ? O fweet bafil, what art thou, to be compared with 
 her frejh cheeks ? they are, perfeft mujk, but tfau art foon 
 withered. O ffafez t thou wilt one day attain the objefi of 
 thy defire^ if thou canjl but fupport thy pain with patience. 
 This little fong is not unlike a fonnet, afcribed to Shake- 
 fpear, which deferves to be cited here, as a proof that the 
 Eaftern imagery is not fo different from the European as. 
 we are apt to imagine. 
 
 The forward violet thus did I chide :- 
 
 ** Sweet thief! whence did/I thoujleal thy fweet that-fmells^ 
 
 *' If not from my love's breath? The purple pride t - 
 
 *' Which on thyfift cheek for complexion dwells, 
 
 * * In my love's veins- thsu hajl too grofsly dyed?' 
 
 ?7}e lily I condemned for thy handy 
 
 And buds of marjoram hadjlofn thy hair ; 
 
 The rofes fearfully on t herns did Jl and, 
 
 tyne blujhing flame, another white defpair ;
 
 E S S A Y I. 183 
 
 A third, nor red, nor white, badJioFn of bcthy 
 And to his robb'ry had annexed thy breath ; 
 But for his theft, in pride of all his growth) 
 A vengeful canker eat him up to death. 
 More few Vj I noted, yet I none could fee, 
 Butfweetor colour it had Jiol'n from thee. 
 
 The Perftan ftyle is fak! to be ridiculoufly bombaft, and 
 this fault is imputed to the flavilh fpirit of the nation, 
 which is ever apt to magnify the objefts that are placed- 
 above it : there are bad writers, to be fure, in every 
 country, and as many in Afia as elfewhere; but, if we 
 take the pains to learn the Perftan language, we fhalt 
 find that thofe authors, who are generally efteemed in. 
 Perfia, are neither ilavifh in their fentiments, nor ridi- 
 culous in their expreflions : of which the following paf- 
 lage in a moral work of Sadi, entitled Bojldn, or, The 
 Garden, will be a fufficient proof. 
 
 Shinidem ke, dtr wahi nezi rewan, 
 Be Hormuz chunin guft'i Nujhirewan : 
 Ki khatir nigehdari derwijhi bajh, 
 Ne der bendi afa'ijhi khijhi bajh : 
 Neafaid ender diyari to tes, 
 Chu afa'ijhi khiflri khahi wa bes. 
 
 N 4 Neyayid
 
 184 ESSAY 1. 
 
 Ncyayid lenezdiki dana pefend, 
 Shubani khufte, u>a gurki der hufpend, 
 Bern pafe derwijhi muhtaj; dar, 
 Ki jhah tz ra'yeti bud taji dar. 
 Raivet cbu bikbe/i wafoltan dirakbt, 
 J)irakht, ai pifer, bajhed ez bikhifakbt. 
 
 That is ; / have beard that king Nujbirvan, jufl before bis 
 death, [poke thus to bis fon Hormuz : Be a guardian, my 
 fen, to the poor and helflfs ; and be not confined in the chains 
 of thy own indolence. No one can be at eafe in thy dominion^ 
 while thou feekeji only thy private re/1, and fayji, It Is 
 enough. A wife man will not approve the Jhepherd, who 
 Jleeps uh'.le the wolf is in the fold. Go, my fon, prate ft 
 thy weak and indigent people ; fmce through them is a king 
 raifed to the diadem. T"be people are the root, and the king 
 is the tree, that grows from it ; and the tree, O my fon, de? 
 rives its Jlrengtb from the root. 
 
 Arethefe mean fentiments, delivered in pompous lan- 
 guage r Are they not rather worthy of our moil fpi- 
 rited writers ? And do they not convey a fine lelTon for 
 a young king ? Yet Sad?s poems are highly efteemed at 
 Con/iantinople, and at Ifpahan ; though, a century or 
 two ago, they would have been fupprefled in Europe, 
 for Spreading, with two ftrong a glare, the light of liberty 
 and reafon. 
 
 As
 
 E S S A Y I f 185 
 
 As to the great Epick poem of Ftnktfl, which was 
 compofed in the tenth century, it would require a very 
 long treatife to explain all its beauties with a minute ex- 
 a&nefs. The whole collection of that poet's works is 
 Called Sbabnama, and contains the hiftory of Perfia^ from 
 the earlieft times to the inv^iion of the /Irabs, in a feries 
 of very noble poems; the longed and moft regular of 
 which is an heroic poem of on^ great and intereftirg 
 a&ion, namely, the deli-vary of Perfia by Cyrus, from the 
 oppreffions of Afrafiab, king of the Tranfoxan Ta 
 who, being affiiled by the emperours of India and 
 together with all the demons, giants, and enchanters of 
 Afia, had carried his conquefts very- far, and become 
 exceedingly formidable to the Peijians. This poem is 
 longer than the ll\an\ the characters in it are various 
 and ftriking ; the figures bold and animated; and the 
 di&ion every where Ibnorous, yet noble ; poliflied, yet 
 full of fiie. A great profulion of learning has been 
 thrown away by fome criticlcs, in comparing Homer with 
 the heroick poets, who have fucceeded him ; but it re- 
 quires very little judgment to fee, that no luccecdino- 
 poet whatever can with any propriety be compared with 
 H^ner : that great father of the Grecian poetry and !'te- 
 rature, had a genius too fruitful and compiehenfive to 
 let any of the ttriking parts of nature e'cape his obfer- 
 vation ; and the poets, who have followed him, have 
 done little more than tranicribe his images, and give a 
 new drels to his thoughts. Whatever elegance . nd 
 
 renne-
 
 I&6 ESSAY I. 
 
 refinements, therefore, may have been introduced into 
 the works of the moderns, the fpirit and invention of 
 Homer have ever continued without a rival : for which 
 reafon I am far from pretending to aflert that the poet of 
 Perfui is equal to that of Greece j but there is certainly a 
 very great refemblance between the works of thofe ex- 
 traordinary men : both drew their images from nature 
 herielf, without catching them only by reflection, and 
 painting, in the manner of the modern poets, the likenefs 
 of a likenejs; and both pofTefied, in an eminent degree, 
 that rich and creative invention, ivhicb is the very foul of 
 foetry. 
 
 As the Perftans borrowed their poetical meafures, and 
 the forms of their poems from the Arabians ; fo the Turks, 
 when they had carried their arms into Mefopotamia, and 
 jfjjyriay took their numbers, and their taile for poetry 
 from the Perfians. 
 
 Gracia capta ferum vi&orem cepit, et artes 
 Intulit agrefti Latio. 
 
 In the fame manner as the Greek competitions were the 
 models of all the Roman writers, fo were thofe of Perfia 
 imitated by the Turks, who confiderably polifhed and 
 enriched their language, naturally barren, by the number 
 of fimple and compound words, which they adopted from 
 the Perfian and /frabicL Lady Worthy Montagu very 
 
 juftly
 
 E S S A Y I. 187 
 
 juftly obferves that we want thofe compound words, which 
 are very frequent ', and Jlrong in the Turkijh language; but 
 her interpreters led her into a miftake in explaining one 
 of them, which fhe tranflatesjtfa^-o'^, and thinks a very 
 lively image of the fire and indifference in the eyes of the royal 
 bride : now it never entered into the mind of an Afiatick 
 to compare his miftrefs's eyes to thofe of a J?ag t or to 
 give an image of their fire and indifference, the Turks 
 mean to exprefs thztfullnefs, and, at the fame time, that 
 foft and languijbing hi/ire, which is peculiar to the eyes of 
 their beautiful women, and which by no means refembles 
 the unpleafing wildnefs in thofe of a flag. The original 
 epithet, I fuppofe, was * AM chejhm, or, with the eyes of 
 a young fawn: now I take the Abu to be the fame animal 
 with the Gazal of the Arabians, and the 'Labi of the 
 Hebrews^ to which their poets allude in almoft every 
 page. I have feen one of thefe animals; it is a kind of 
 antelope, exquifitely beautiful, with eyes uncommonly 
 black and large. This is the fame fort of roe, to which 
 Solomon alludes in this delicate limile : Thy two breajts are 
 like two young roes, that are twins, which flay among the 
 lilies, 
 
 A very polite fcholar, who has lately tranflated fixteen 
 Odes of Hafez, with learned illuftrations, blames the 
 Turkijh rioets for copying the Perfians too fervilely : but, 
 furely, they are not more blamable than Horace, who 
 not only imitated the meafures and expreffions of the 
 
 Greeks,
 
 i83 E S S A Y I. 
 
 Greeks, but even tranflated, almoft word for word, the 
 brighteft pafTages of Alcaus, Anacresn, and others ; he 
 took lefs from Pindar than from the reft, becaufe the 
 wilclnefs of his numbers, and the obfcurity of his allu- 
 fions, were by no means fuitable to the genius of the 
 Latin language : and this may, perhaps, explain his ode 
 to Julius Antonius, who might have advifed him to uie 
 more of Pindar's manner in celebrating the victories of 
 jiugujliis. Whatever we may think of this objection, it 
 is certain that the Turkijh empire lias produced a great 
 number of poets ; fome of whom had no fmall merit in 
 their way : the ingenious author juft mentioned affured 
 me, that the Turkijh fatires of Rubi Ragdadi were very 
 forcible and ftriking, and he mentioned the opening of 
 one of them, which feemed not unlike the manner of 
 Juvenal. At the beginning of the laft century, a work 
 was publifhed at Conftantimple, containing the fmeft 
 verfes of fii/e hundred and forty-nine Turkijh poets, which 
 proves at leaft that they are fingularly fond of this art, 
 whatever may be our opinion of their fuccefs in it. 
 
 The defcendants of Tamerlane carried into India the 
 language and poetry of the Perjians^ and the Indian 
 poets to this day compofe their verfes in imitation of 
 them. The beft of their works, that have paiTed through 
 my hands, are thole of Huzdrt, who lived fome years 
 ago at Benares, with a great reputation for his parts and 
 learning, and was known to the EngHJh, who refided 
 
 there,
 
 ESSAY I. 
 
 there, by the name of the Philofipher. His poems are 
 elegant and lively, and one of them, on the departure of 
 bis friends, would fuit our language; admirably well, but 
 is too long to be inferted in this eflay. The Indians are 
 foft and voltiptuous, but artful and inilncere, at leaft to 
 the Europeans, whom, to lay the truth, they have had 
 no great reafon of late years to admire for the oppoiite 
 virtues : but they are fond of poetry, which they learned 
 from the Perfians, and may, perhaps, before the clofc of 
 the century, be as fond of a more formidable art, which 
 they will learn from the Englijh. 
 
 \ muft once more requeft, that, in bcftowing thefe 
 praifes on the writings of Afta, I may not be thought to 
 derogate from the merit of the Greek and Latin poems, 
 which have juilly been admired in every age; yet 1 can- 
 not but think that our European poetry has fubfifted too 
 long on the perpetual repetition of the lame images, and 
 incetfant allufions to the fame fables : and it has been 
 my endeavour for feveral years to inculcate this truth, 
 That, if the principal writings of the Afiaticks t which are 
 repofited in our pub lick libraries, were printed with the ufual 
 advantage of notes and illujlratians, and if the languages of 
 the Eajlern nations were ftudied in our places of education, 
 where every other branch of ufeful knowledge is taught to 
 perfection, a new and ample field would be open for fpecula- 
 tion ; we Jhould have a more extenfrve infight into the hi;lory
 
 IQO E S S AY I. 
 
 of the human mind, we Jbould be furnijhed with a new fet of 
 images and Jimilitudes, and a number of excellent compsfitions 
 would be brought to light, which future fibolars might ex- 
 plain, and future poets might imitate. 
 
 ESSAY
 
 ESSAY 
 
 On the Arts, commonly called Imitative. 
 
 IT is the fate of thofe maxims, which have been 
 thrown out by very eminent writers, to be received 
 implicitly by moft of their followers, and to be repeated 
 a thoufand times, for no other reafon, than becaufe they 
 once dropped from the pen of a fuperiour genius : one of 
 thefe is the aflertion of Art/loth, that all poetry conjifts in 
 imitation, which has been fo frequently echoed from 
 author to author, that it would feem a kind of arrogance 
 to controvert it; for almoft all the philofophers and cri- 
 ticks, who have written upon the fubjeft of poetry, mufuk y 
 and painting, how little focver they may agree in fome 
 points, feem of one mind in conlidering them as arts 
 merely imitative : yet it muft be clear to any one, who 
 examines what pafles in his own mind, that he is affefted 
 
 by
 
 i 9 2 E S S A V 1. 
 
 by the fineft poems* pieces of njiifick, and^/J7wra, upon 
 principle, which, whatever it he, is entirely cliflinft from 
 imitation. M. le Batten* has attempted to prove that all 
 the fine arts have a relation to this common principle of 
 imitating: but, whatever be faid of painting, it is proba- 
 ble, that poetry and mnfick had a nobler origin; and, if 
 the firft language of man was not both poetical and 
 muftcal, it is certain, at leaft, that in countries, where 
 no kind of imitation leems to be much admired, there are 
 poets and muftcians both by nature and by art: as in fome 
 Mahometan nations; where fculpture and painting are for- 
 bidden by the laws, where dramatick poetry of every fort 
 is wholly unknown, yet, where the pleaiing arts, of 
 exprejjing the pajjiins in verfe, and of enforcing that expref- 
 fion by melody^ are cultivated to a degree of enthufiafm. 
 It fhall be my endeavour in this paper to prove, that, 
 though poetry and mufick have, certainly, a power of imi- 
 tating the manners of men, and feveral objects in nature, 
 yet, that their greateft effeft is not produced by imitation, 
 but by a very different principle; which muft be fought 
 for in the deepefl recelTes of the human mind. 
 
 To ftate the queftion properly, we muft have a clear 
 notion of what we mean by poetry and mufick \ but we- 
 cannot give a precife definition of them, till we have 
 made a few previous remarks on their origin, their rela- 
 tion to each other, and their difference. 
 
 It
 
 ESSAY II. 193 
 
 It feems probable then that poetry was originally no 
 more than a ftrong, and animated expreflion of the hu- 
 man paflions, of joy and grief \ love and bate, admiration 
 and anger, fometimcs pure and unmixed, fometimes vari- 
 oufly modified and combined : for, if we obfcrve the 
 voice and accents of a perfon affected by any of the vio- 
 lent paflions, we fhall perceive fomething in them very 
 nearly approaching to cadence and meafure; which is re- 
 markably the cafe in the language of a vehement Orator, 
 \vhofb talent is chiefly convcrfant about praife or cenfure ; 
 and we may collect from feveral paflages in Tulfy, that 
 the fine fpeakers of old Greece and Rome had a fort of 
 rhythm in their fentences, lefs regular, but not lefs me- 
 lodious, than that of the poets. 
 
 If this idea be juft, one would fuppofe that the moft 
 ancient fort of poetry conlifted in praifing \he Deity \ for 
 if we conceive a heing, created with all his faculties and 
 fenfes, endued with fpeech and reafon, to open his eyes 
 in a moft delightful plain, to view for the firft time the 
 ferenity of the Iky, the fplendour of the fun, the ver- 
 dure of the fields and woods, the glowing colours of the 
 flowers, we can hardly believe it poflible, that he fhould 
 refrain from burfling into an extafy of joy, and pouring 
 his praifes to the creator of thofe wonders, and the au- 
 thor of his happinefs. This kind of poetry is ufed in all 
 nations; but as it is the fublimeft of ail, when it is ap- 
 plied to its true object, fo it has often been perverted to 
 impious purpofes by pagans and idolaters : every one 
 knows that the dramatick poetry of the European* took its 
 
 O rife
 
 194 ESSAY II. 
 
 rife from tl;e fame fpring, and was no more at fifft than 
 a fong in praife of Bacchus', fo that the only fpecies of 
 poetical compofition, (if we except the Epick) which 
 can in any fenfe be called imitative, was deduced from a 
 natural emotion of the mind, in which imitation could 
 not be at all concerned. 
 
 The next fource of poetry was, probably, love, or the 
 mutual inclination, which naturally fubfifts between the 
 lexes, and is founded upon perfonal beauty : hence arofe 
 the moft agreeable odes, and love-fongs, which we admire 
 in the works of the ancient lyrick poets, not filled, like 
 our fonnets and madrigals, with the infipid babble of darts, 
 and Cupids, but fimple, tender, natural; and confifting 
 of fuch unaffected endearments, and mild complaints, 
 
 * Teneri fdegni, e placide e tranquille 
 Repulfe, e cari vezzi, e liete paci, 
 
 as we may fuppofe to have pafled between the firft 
 lovers in a ftate of innocence, before the refinements of 
 fociety, and the reftraints, which they introduced, had 
 made the paffion of love fo fierce, and impetuous, as it is 
 faid to have been in Dido, and certainly was in Sappho, 
 if we may take her own word for it f . 
 
 * Two lines of Tajb. , 
 
 f See the ode of Sappbo quoted by Longinus, and tranflated by 
 Boikau. 
 
 The
 
 ESSAY II. 195 
 
 The grief, which the flrft inhabitants of the earth 
 muft have felt at the death of their ckareft friends, and 
 relations, gave rife to another fpecies of poetry, which 
 originally, perhaps, confifted of fhort dirges, and waa 
 afterwards lengthened into elegies. 
 
 As foon as vice began to prevail in the world, it was 
 natural for the wife and virtuous to exprefs their detcfla~ 
 it on of it in the ftrongeft manner, and to fhow their re- 
 fentment againft the corrupters of mankind : hence moral 
 poetry was derived, which, at firft, we find, was fevere 
 and paffionate ; but was gradually melted down into cool 
 precepts of morality, or exhortations to virtue : we may 
 reafonaWy conjecture that Epick poetry had the fame ori- 
 gin, and that the examples of heroes and kings were in- 
 troduced, to illuftrate fome moral truth, by fhowing the 
 lovelincfs and advantages of virtue, or the many misfor- 
 tunes that flow from vice. 
 
 "Where there is vice, which is deteftable in itfclf, there 
 muft be bate, fince the Jlrongejl antipathy in nature, as 
 Mr. Pope aliened in his writings, and proved by his 
 whole life, fubfifts between the good and the bad: now this 
 paffion was the fource of that poetry, which we call 
 Satire, very improperly, and corruptly, fince the Satire 
 of the Romans was no more than a moral piece, which 
 
 O 2 they
 
 196 E S S A Y II. 
 
 they entitled Satttra or Satyra, * intimating, that the 
 poem, like a difo of fruit and corn offered to Ceres, con- 
 tained a variety and plenty of fancies and figures ; where- 
 as the true inweftives of the ancients were called Iambi, 
 of which we have feveral examples in Catullus, and in 
 the Epodes of Horace, who imitated the very meafures 
 and manner of Archilochus. 
 
 Thefe are the principal fonrces of poetry; and of mu- 
 fck alfo, as it fhall be my endeavour to fhow : but it is 
 firft neceflary to lay a few words on the nature cf found* 
 a very copious fubjecl, which would require a long dif- 
 fertation to be accurately difcufled. Without entering 
 into a difcourfe on the vibrations cf chords, or the undu- 
 lations of the air, it will be fufficient for our purpofe to 
 obferve that there is a great difference between a common 
 found, and a mufical found, which conilils chiefly in this, 
 that the former is fimple and entire in itfelf like a point, 
 while the latter is always accompanied with other founds, 
 without ceafing to be one ; like a circle, which is an en- 
 tire figure, though it is generated by a multitude of 
 points flowing, at equal diftances, round a common 
 centre. Thefe acceffory founds, which are caufed by 
 the aliquots of a fonorous b:dy vibrating at once, are 
 called Harmonicks, and the whole fyftem of modern Har- 
 mony depends upon them ; though it were eafy to prove 
 that the fyftem is unnatural, and only made tolerable to 
 the ear by habit : for whenever we ftrike the perfeft 
 
 * Some Latin words were fpelled either with an u or a j>, as Sulla 
 or Sjlla. 
 
 accord
 
 ESSAY II. 197 
 
 accord on a harpfichord or an organ, the harmonicks 0f 
 the third and fifth have a!fo their own harmonicks, 
 which are diflbnant from the principal note : Thefe hor- 
 rid difibnances are, indeed, almoft overpowered by the 
 natural harmonicas of the principal chord, but that does 
 not prove them agreeable. Since nature has given us a 
 delightful harmony of her own, why fhould we deflroy 
 it by the additions of art ? It is like thinking 
 
 to paint the lily, , 
 
 And add a perfume to the violet. 
 
 Now let us conceive that fome vehement paflion is ex- 
 prefled in ftrong words, exaftly meafured, and pronoun- 
 ced, in a common voice, injuft cadence, and with proper 
 accents, fuch an expreflion of the paflion will be genuine 
 poetry ; and the famous ode of Sappho is allowed to be fb 
 in the ftrifteft fenle : but if the lame ode, with all its 
 natural accents, were exprefied in a muf>cal voice, (that is, 
 in founds accompanied with their Harmonicks) if it were 
 fung in due time and meafure, in a iimple and pleafing 
 tune, that added force to the words without ftifling them, 
 it would then be pure and original mufick ; not merely 
 foothing to the ear, but affect ing to the heart; not an 
 imitation of nature, but the voice of nature herfelf. But 
 there is another point in which mufick mufl refemblc 
 poetry, or it will lole a cpnfiderable part of its effec\ : w.e 
 all muft have obferved, that a fpeaker, agitated with 
 
 O 3 paflion,
 
 198 ESSAY If. 
 
 paffion, or an a&or, who is, indeed, ftri&ly an imitator, 
 are perpetually changing the tone and pitch of tlieir 
 voice, as the fenfe of their words varies : it may be 
 worth while to examine how this variation is expreffed 
 in niufick. Every body knows that the mufical fcale 
 confifts of feven notes, above which we find a fucceffion 
 of Cinilar founds repeated in the fame order, and above 
 thatj other fucceffions, as far as they can be continued 
 by the human voice, or diftinguifhed by the human ear : 
 now each of thefe feven founds has no more meaning, 
 when it is heard feparately, than a lingle letter of the 
 alphabet would have ; and it is only by their fucceffion, 
 and their relation to one principal found, that they take 
 any rank in the fcale ; or differ from each other, except 
 as they are graver, or more atute : but in the regular 
 fcale each interval aiTuines a proper character, and every 
 note {lands related to the firft or principal one by various 
 proportions. Now a feries of founds relating to one had- 
 ing n'jte is called a mode, or a tone, and, as there are 
 twelve femitones in the fcale, each of which may be 
 made in its turn the leader of a mode, it follows that 
 there are twelve modes ; and each of them has a pecu- 
 liar chara&er, arifing from the petition of the modal 
 note, and from fome minute difference in the ratio's, as 
 of 8 1 to 80, or a comma ; for there are fome intervals, 
 which cannot eafily be rendered on our inftruments, yet 
 have a iurpr.;/ing effect in modulation, or in the tranfi- 
 fions from one mode to another. 
 
 The
 
 ESSAY II. 
 
 199 
 
 The modes of the ancients are faid to have had a won- 
 derful effel over the mind ; and Plato, who permits the 
 Dorian in his imaginary republick, on account of its 
 calmnefs and gravity, excludes the Lydian, becauie of 
 its languid, tender, and effeminate character : not that 
 any feries of mere founds has a power of raifing or footh- 
 ing the paflions, but each of thefe modes was appropri- 
 ated to a particular kind of poetry, and a particular in- 
 itrument ; and the chief of them, as the Dorian, Phrygian, 
 Lydian, Ionian, Eolian, Locrian, belonging originally to 
 the nations, from which they took their names : thus 
 the Phrygian mode, which was ardent and impetuous, was 
 ufually accompanied with trumpets, and the Mixolydlan, 
 which, if we believe Arijloxenus, was invented by Sappho, 
 was probably confined to the pathetick and tragick ftyle : 
 that thefe modes had a relation to poftry, as well as to 
 mufick, appears from a fragment of La/us, in which he 
 lays, / [ing of Ceres, and her daughter Melibcea, the con- 
 fort of Pluto, in the Eolian mode, full of gravity, and 
 Pindar calls one of his Odes an Eol.'an fong. If the 
 Greeks furpafled us in the ftrength of their modulations, 
 we have an advantage over them in our minor fcale, which 
 fuppiics us with twelve new modes, where the two femi- 
 tones are removed from their natural pofition between the 
 third and fourth, the feventh and eighth notes, and 
 placed between the fecond and third, the fifth and fixth ; 
 this change of the femitones, by giving a minor third to 
 die modal note, ibftens the general expreflion of the 
 
 O 4 mode,
 
 200 ESSAY II. 
 
 mode, and adapts it admirably to fubjefts of grief and 
 affliction: the minor mode of D is tender, that of C, 
 with three flats, plaintive, and that of F, with four, 
 pathetick and mournful to the higheft degree, for which 
 reafon it was chofen by the excellent Pergohfi in his 
 Stabat Mater. Now thefe twenty-four modes, artfully 
 interwoven, and changed as often as the fentiment 
 
 * O 
 
 changes, may, it is evident, exprefs all the variations in 
 the voice of a fpeaker, and give an additional beauty to 
 the accents of a post. Confiftently with the foregoing 
 principles, we may define original and native poetry to be 
 the language of the violent pajfiom, exprejfid in exatt mea- 
 fure, with Jirong accents and fignificant words ; and true 
 viufick to be no more than poetry ', delivered in a fuccejjion of 
 harmonious founds, fo difpofcd as to pleafe the ear. It is in 
 this view only that we muft confider the mufick of the 
 ancient Greeks, or attempt to account for its amazing 
 effects, which we find related by the graveft hiftorians, 
 and philofophers; it was wholly paflionate or defcriptive, 
 and fo clofely united to poetry, that it never obftru&ed, 
 but always increafed its influence; whereas our boafted 
 harmony, with all its fine accords, and numerous parts, 
 paints nothing, exprefles nothing, fays nothing to the 
 heart, and confequently can only give more or lefs plea- 
 fure , to one of our fenfes; and no reafonable man will 
 ferioufly prefer a tranfitory pleafure, which muft foon 
 end in fatiety, or even in difguft, to a delight of the 
 foul, arifing from fympathy, and founded on the na- 
 tural paffions, always lively, always interesting, always 
 
 tranfport-
 
 ESSAY II. 201 
 
 tranfporting. The old divifions of mufick into celejlial 
 anil earthly, divine and human, attive and contemplative, 
 intelleilive and or atonal, were founded rather upon meta- 
 phors, and chimerical analogies, than upon any real 
 diftinlions in nature; but the want of making a diftinc- 
 tion between mufick of mere founds, and the mufick of the 
 pajjicns, has been the perpetual fource of confufion and 
 contradictions both among the ancients and the moderns: 
 nothing can be more oppofite in many points than the 
 fyftems of Rameau and Tartini, one of whom aflerts that 
 melody fprings from harmony, and the other deduces 
 harmony from melody ; and both are in the right, if 
 the firft fpeaks only of that mufick, which took its rife 
 from the multiplicity of founds heard at once in the fonorous 
 body, and the fecond, of that, which rofe from the ac- 
 cents and inflexions of the human voice, animated by tlx 
 pajjtons : to decide, as Rouff.au fays, whether of thefe 
 two fchools ought to have the preference, we need only 
 afk a plain queftion, Was the voice made for the inftru- 
 ments, or the Jnftruments for the voice ? 
 
 In defining what true poetry ought to be, according to 
 our principles, we have defcribed what it really was 
 among the Hebrews, the Greeks and Romans, the drabs 
 and Perfians. The lamentation of David, and his fa- 
 crcd odes, or pfalms, the fong of Solomon, the prophecies 
 of Ifaiah, 'Jeremiah, and the other infpired writers, are 
 truly and ftri&ly poetical ; but what did David or Solo- 
 mon imitate in their divine poems ? A man, who is really 
 
 joyful
 
 202 ESSAY H. 
 
 joyful or affli&ed, cannot be faid to imitate joy or afflic- 
 tion. The lyrick verfes of Alcaus, Alcman, and Ibycus, 
 the hymns of Callimachus, the elegy of Mofcbus on the 
 death of Bion, are all beautiful pieces of poetry ; yet 
 Ahfsus was no imitaior of love, Callimachus was no imi- 
 tator of religious awe and admiration, Mofchus was no 
 imitator of grief at the lofs of an amiable friend. Arlf- 
 totle hiinfelf wrote a very poetical elegy on the death of 
 a man, whom he had loved ; but it would be difficult to 
 fay what he imitated in it : <c O virtue, who proptfcft 
 (l many labours to the human race, and art ftlll the alluring 
 " objefl of our life ; for thy c tar MS, O beautiful goddefs, it 
 " was always an envied happinefs in Greece even to die, and 
 11 to fuffer the moft painful, the rnoft affl; fling evils : fuch are 
 cc the immortal fruits, whuh thou ralfeji in our minds ; 
 tl fruits, mire precious than gold, more fiveet than the love 
 ' of parents, and f oft repofe : for thee Hercules the fon of 
 " "Jove, and the twins of Ledi, fujlalned many labours^ and 
 <l by their illitjlrious aflions fought thy favour ; for loue of 
 (t thee, Achlllfs and Ajax defcendedto the manjlon of Pluto ; 
 '* and, through a zeal for thy charms, the prince of Atarnea 
 * alfo was deprived of the furfs light : therefore Jball the 
 '* mufes, daughters of memory, render him immortal for his 
 * glorious deeds, whenever they fen g the god of hofpitality, and 
 " the honours due to a lajting friend/hip?' 
 
 In the preceding collection of poems, there are fome 
 Eaftern fables, fome odes, a panegyrick, and an elegy ; yet 
 it does not appear to me, that there is the leaft imitation 
 
 in
 
 ESSAY IT, 203 
 
 in either of diem : Petrarch was, certainly, too deeply 
 affefted with re:tl grief ^ and the Perfum poet was too lin- 
 cere a lover, to imitate the paffions of others. As to 
 the reft, a fable in verfe ie no more an imitation than a 
 fable in profc ; ami if every poetical narrative, which 
 defcribes the manners, and relates the adventures of men, 
 be called imitative, every romance, and even every hif- 
 tory, muft be called fo likewife ; fince many poems are 
 only romance^ or parts of bijiory^ told in a regular mea- 
 fure. 
 
 What has been faid of poetry may with equal force 
 be applied to mufuk, which is poetry^ cl re fled to advan- 
 tage ; and even to painting^ many forts of which are 
 poems to the eye, as all poems, merely defcriptive, are 
 pictures to the ear : and this way of confidering them, 
 will let the refinements of modern artifts in their true 
 light ; for the paj/ims, which were given by nature, 
 never fpoke in an unnatural form, and no man, truely 
 aifeted with love or grief, ever exprclTed the one in an 
 aero/lick, or the other in a fugue : thefe remains, there- 
 fore, of the falfe tafte, which prevailed in the dark ages, 
 jliould be banifhed from this, which is enlightened with 
 a juft one. 
 
 It is true, that fome kinds of painting are ftri&ly imi- 
 tative y as that which is folely intended to reprcfent the 
 human figure and countenance ; but it will be found, 
 jthat thofe pictures have always the gre a tefl effect, which 
 
 reprcfent
 
 204. ESSAY II. 
 
 reprefent fome pajfion, as the martyrdom of St. dgne* by 
 Domenicbino, and the various reprefentations of the Cru- 
 cifixion by tie f neft matters of Italy; and there can be 
 no doubt, but that the famous Jacrifice of Ipbigenia by 
 limantbes was affecting to the higheft degree ; which 
 proves, not that painting cannot be faid to imitate y but 
 that its moft powerful influence over the mind arifes, 
 like that of the other arts, from fympatby. 
 
 It is alTerted alfo that defcriptlve poetry, and defcriptive 
 muiick, as they are called, are ftrict imitations ; but, net 
 to infift that mere defcription is the meaneft part of both 
 arts, if indeed it belongs to them at all, it is clear, that 
 words and founds have no kind of refemblance to vifible 
 objects : and what is an imitation, but a refemblance of 
 fome other thing ? Betides, no unprejudiced hearer will 
 fay that he finds the firalleft traces of imitation in the 
 numerous fugues , counter fugues^ and divifions, which ra- 
 ther dilgrace than adorn the modern mufick : even founds 
 themielves are imperfeUy imitated by harmony, and, if 
 we fometimes hear the murmuring of a brook, or the chirp- 
 ing of birds in a concert, we are generally apprifed be- 
 fore-hand of the paflages, where we may expect them. 
 Some eminent muficians, indeed, have been abfurd 
 enough to think of imitating laughter and other noifes, 
 but, if they had fucceeded, they could not have made 
 amends for their want of tafte in attempting it; for fuch 
 ridiculous imitations muft neceflarily deftroy the fpirit 
 and dignity of the fineft poems, which they ought to 
 
 illuftrate
 
 ESSAY H. 2cs 
 
 illuftrate by a graceful and natural melody. It feems to 
 me, that, as thofe parts of poetry^ mufick, and painting, 
 which relate to the paffions, affect by fympathy, fo tbofe, 
 which are merely defcriptive, act by a kind of fubjlltu- 
 tiori) that is, by raifing in our minds, affections, or fen- 
 timents, analogous to thofe, which arife in us, when the 
 refpective objects in nature are prefented to our fenfes. 
 Let us fuppofe that a poet, a mufician, and a painter, 
 are flrivingtogive their friend, or patron, a pleafure fimi- 
 lar to that, which he feels at the fight of a beautiful 
 profpect. The firft will form an agreeable aflemblage 
 of lively images, which he will exprefs in fmooth and 
 elegant verfes of a fprightly meafure ; he will defcribe 
 the moft delightful objects, and will add to the graces 
 of his defcription a certain delicacy of fentiment, and 
 a fpirit of cheerfulnefs. The mufician, who undertakes 
 to fet the words of the poet, will felect fome mode, 
 which, on his violin, has the character of mirth and 
 gaiety, as the Eolian, or E fat, which he will change 
 as the fentiment is varied : he will exprefs the words in 
 a fimple and agrreable melcdy, which will not difguife, 
 but embellifh them, without aiming at any fugue, or 
 figured harmony : he will ufe the bafs, to mark the mo- 
 dulation more ftrongly, efpecially in the changes ; and 
 he will place the tenour generally in unifon with the bafs, 
 to prevent too great a diltance between the parts : in the 
 fymphony he will, above all things, avoid a double 
 hdy, and will apply his variations only to fome acceilory 
 klcas, which the principal part, that is, the voice, could 
 
 not
 
 206 ESSAY II. 
 
 not eafily exprefs : he will not make a number of ufclefs 
 repetitions, becaufe the pajjlons only repeat the fame ex- 
 preffions, and dwell upon the fame fentiments, while 
 defcription can only reprefcnt a fingle object by a fingle 
 fentence. The painter will defcribe all vifible objects 
 more exactly than his rivals, but he will fall fhort of 
 the other artifts in a very material circumftance ; name- 
 ly, that his pencil, which may, indeed, exprefs a fim pie 
 paffion, cannot paint a thought, or draw the fhades of 
 fentiment : he will, however, fmifh his landfcape with 
 grace and elegance; his colours will be rich, and glow- 
 ing ; his perfpeftive ftriking ; and his figures will be 
 difpofcd with an agreeable variety, but not with confu- 
 fion : above all, he will diffufe over his whole piece fuch 
 a fpirit of livelinels and fellivity, that the beholder fhall 
 be feized with a kind of rapturous delight, and, for a 
 moment, miftake art for nature. 
 
 Thus will each artift gain his end, not by imitating the 
 works of nature, but by afiuming her power, and 
 caufing the fame effel upon the imagination, which 
 her charms produce to the fenfes : this muft be the 
 chief objel of a poet, a mufician, and a painter, who 
 know that great effetts are not produced by minute details, 
 but by the general fpirit of the whole piece, and that a gaudy 
 compofition may Jlrike the mind for a Jhort time, but that the 
 beauties of fimplicity are both more delightful, and more per- 
 manent.
 
 ESSAY II. 207 
 
 As the pajjims are differently modified in different men, 
 and as even the various objects in nature affedr, our minds 
 in various degrees, it is obvious, that there mull be a 
 great diverfity in the pleafure, which we receive from 
 the fine arts, whether that pleafure arifes from fympathy y 
 or fubjlitution ; and that it were a wild notion in artifts 
 to think of pleafing every reader, hearer, or beholder j 
 fince every man has a particular fet of objects, and a 
 particular inclination, which direft him in the choice of 
 his pleafures, and induce him to confider the productions, 
 both of nature and of art, as more or lefs elegant, in pro- 
 portion as they give him a greater or fmaller degree of 
 delight : this does not at all contradict the opinion of 
 many able writers, that there is one uniform ftandard of 
 ta/ie ; fince the paj/ions, and, confequently, fympaihy, are 
 generally the fame in all men, till they are weakened by 
 age, infirmity, or other caufes. 
 
 If the arguments, ufed in this eflay, have any weight, 
 it will appear, that the fineft parts of poetry, mufick, 
 and painting, are exprefiive of the pajfions, and peratc 
 on our minds byjyatpatty ; that the inferior parts of them 
 are defcriptwe of natural objefts, and affect us chiefly by 
 fub/tittition; that the exprcflions of love, pity, defire^ and 
 the tender paffions, as well as the deferiptions of objects 
 that delight the fenfes, produce in the arts what we call 
 the beautiful'., but that bate, anger, fear, and the terrible 
 paffions, as well ag objedh, which are unplevfmg to the 
 
 fenfes,
 
 ao8 ESSAY If. 
 
 fenfes, are produ&ive of \\\tfubHnie y when they are aptly 
 expreffed, or dcicribeJ. 
 
 Thefe fubje&s might be purfued to infinity ; but, if 
 they were amply difcuffed, it would be neccflary to write 
 a feries of differtations, inflead of an eflay. 
 
 THE END.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 
 UN 2 61964' 
 KEC'O.LWJI 
 
 
 >rm L9-42m-8.'49(B55
 
 See Spine for 
 Barcode Number 
 
 TV
 
 BHBBH