STREP. When Flavia comes attir'd for rural games,
Each curl, each flower she wears, a charm exprefs.
DAM. Sylvia, without a foreign aid, inflames;
Charm'd with her eyes, we never mind her dress.
STREP. Have you seen Flavia with her flaxen hair ?
She feems an image of the queen of love !
DAM. Sylvia's dark hair like Leda's locks appear,
And yet, like her, has charms to conquer Jove.
STREP. Flavia by crouds of lovers is admir'd;
Happy that youth who shall the fair enjoy !
DAM. Sylvia neglects her lovers, lives retir'd;
Happy, that could her lonely thoughts employ !
STREP, Flavia, where-e'er she comes, the swains fub-
And every fmile she gives conveys a dart.
DAM. Sylvia the swains with native coldness views,
And yet what shepherd can defend his heart?
STREP. Flavia's bright beauties in an instant strike;
Gazers, before they think of it, adore.
DAM. Sylvia's foft charms, as foon as seen, we like;
But still the more we think, we love the more.
STREP. Who is so stupid, that has Flavia seen,
As not to view the nymph with vast delight?
DAM. Who has seen Sylvia, and so stupid been,
As to remember any other fight?
STREP. What thoughts has Flavia, when with care she
Her charming graces in the crystal lakes ? DAM. To fee hers, Sylvia need no mirrors use; She fees them by the conquests that she makes.
STREP. With what assurance Flavia walks the plains!
She knows the nymphs must all their lovers yield.
DAM. Sylvia with blushes wounds the gazing swains,
And while she strives to fly, the wins the field.
STREP. Flavia at first young Melibœus lov'd;
For me she did that charming youth forsake.
DAM. Sylvia's relentless heart was never mov'd;
Gods! that I might the first impression make !
STREP. Should Flavia hear that Sylvia vy'd with her;
What indignation would the charmer show !
DAM. Sylvia would Flavia to herself prefer :
There we alone her judgment difallow. STREP. If Sylvia's charms with Flavia's can compare, Why is this crowded still, and that alone? DAM. Because their ways of life so different are; Flavia gives all men hopes, and Sylvia none.
LYCON. Shepherds, enough; now cease your amorous
Or too much heat may carry both too far;
I well attended the dispute, and find
Both nymphs have charms, but each in different kind.
Flavia deferves more pains than she will cost;
As easily got, were the not easily loft.
Sylvia is much more difficult to gain;
But, once poffefs'd, will well reward the pain.
We wish them Flavias all, when first we burn;
But, once poffefs'd, wish they would Sylvias turn.
And, by the different charms in each expreft,
One we should fooneft love, the other best.
Oh, love! I know thee now; thou ow'st thy birth
To rocks; fome craggy mountain brought thee forth
Nor is it human blood that fills thy veins,
Begin, my Muse, begin the Arcadian strains.
Relentless love to bold Medea show'd,
To ftain her guilty hands in children's blood.
Was she more cruel, or more wicked he
He was a wicked counsellor, a cruel mother fhe.
Begin, my Muse, begin th' Arcadian strains.
Now let the screech-owls vie with warbling fwans;
Upon hard oaks let blushing peaches grow,
And from the brambles liquid amber flow.
The harmless wolves the ravenous sheep shall shun;
And valiant deer at fearful greyhounds run :
Let the fea rife, and overflow the plains.
Begin, my Muse, begin th' Arcadian strains.
Adieu, ye flocks; no more shall I purfue!
Adieu, ye groves; a long, a long adieu !
And you, coy nymph, who all my vows disdain,
Take this last present from a dying swain.
Since you dislike whate'er in life I faid,
You may be pleas'd, perhaps, to hear I'm dead :
This leap shall put an end to all my pains.
Now cease, my Muse, now cease th' Arcadian strains.
Thus Damon fung while on the cliff he stood,
Then headlong plung'd into the raging flood.-
All with united grief the lofs bemoan,
Except the authoress of his fate alone,
Who hears it with an unrelenting breast.
Ah, cruel nymph! forbear your scorns at last.
How much foe'er you may the love despise, 'Tis barbarous to infult on one that dies.
STREPHON and Damon's flocks together fed,
Two charming swains as e'er Arcadia bred;
Both fam'd for wit, and fam'd for beauty both;
Both in the luftre of their blooming youth :
No fullen cares their tender thoughts remove,
No paffions discompose their fouls, but love.
Once, and but once alone, as story goes,
Between the youths a fierce difpute arose;
Not for the merit of their tuneful lays
(Though both deserv'd, yet both despis'd, that praise):
But for a cause of greater moment far,
That merited a lover's utmost care.
Each fwain the prize of beauty strove to gain,
For the bright shepherdess that caus'd his pain.
Lycon they chose, the difference to decide,
Lycon, for prudence and sage counsel try'd;
Who love's mysterious arts had study'd long.
And taught, when old, what he had practis'd young.
For the dispute alternate verse they choose,
Alternate verse delights the rural Muse.
STREP. To Flavia, love, thou justly ow'st the prize,
She owns thy power, nor does thy laws reprove.
DAM. Though Sylvia, for herself, love's power defies,
What crowds of vassals has the made to love!
STREP. When Flavia comes attir'd for rural games,
Each curl, each flower she wears, a charm express.
DAM. Sylvia, without a foreign aid, inflames;
Charm'd with her eyes, we never mind her dress.
STREP. Have you seen Flavia with her flaxen hair ?
She feems an image of the queen of love !
DAM. Sylvia's dark hair like Leda's locks appear,
And yet, like her, has charms to conquer Jove.
STREP. Flavia by crouds of lovers is admir'd;
Happy that youth who shall the fair enjoy !
DAM. Sylvia neglects her lovers, lives retir'd;
Happy, that could her lonely thoughts employ !
STREP. Flavia, where-e'er she comes, the swains fub-
And every smile she gives conveys a dart.
DAM. Sylvia the swains with native coldness views,
And yet what shepherd can defend his heart?
STREP. Flavia's bright beauties in an instant strike;
Gazers, before they think of it, adore.
DAM. Sylvia's soft charms, as foon as seen, we like;
But still the more we think, we love the more.
STREP. Who is so stupid, that has Flavia seen,
As not to view the nymph with vast delight?
DAM. Who has seen Sylvia, and so stupid been,
As to remember any other fight?
STREP. What thoughts has Flavia, when with care she
Her charming graces in the crystal lakes ? DAM. To fee hers, Sylvia need no mirrors use; She fees them by the conquests that she makes.
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