Thus confecrated, thy 13 Grynaan Grove
Shall have no equal in Apollo's Love.

Why fhould I fpeak of the 14 Megarian Maid,
For Love perfidious, and by Love betray'd?
And 15 her, who round with barking Monsters arm'd,
The wandring Greeks (ah frighted men) alarm'd;
16 Whose only hope on fhatter'd Ships depends,
While fierce Sea-dogs devour the mangled Friends.
Or tell the Thracian Tyrants alter'd shape,
And dire revenge of Philomela's Rape,

Who to thofe Woods directs her mournful course,
Where the had fuffer'd by incestuous force,
While loth to leave the Palace too well known,
Progne flies, hovering round, and thinks it ftill her
Whatever near 17 Eurota's happy Stream [own.
With Laurels crown'd had been Apollo's Theam,
Silenus fings; the neighbouring Rocks reply,
And fend his Myftick numbers through the Sky,
'Till Night began to spread her gloomy Vail,
And call'd the counted Sheep from every Dale;
The weaker Light unwillingly declin'd, [fign'd.
And to prevailing shades the murmuring World re-

I

POSTSCRIPT.

Sicilian-Virgil in his Eclogue, imitates The

ocritus a Sicilian Poet.

2 Thalia------The name of the Rural Muse.

3 Varus--- A great Favourite of Auguftus, the fame that was kill'd in Germany, and loft the Roman Legions.

4 Chromis and Mnafylus------Some Interpreters think thefe were young Satyrs, others will have them Shepberds: I rather take them for Satyrs, because of their names, which are never used for Shepherds, any where (that I remember) but here.

6

7

They bound------Proteus, Pan, and Silenus worldı never tell what was defired, till they were bound.

Nais------The Latin word for a Water-Nymph.Vermilion Dye------The colour that Pan and Silenus lov'd beft.

Rival'd the Sun----Minerva delighted with the Art and Industry of Prometheus (who had made an Image of Clay fo perfect, that it wanted nothing but Life,) carried him up to Heaven, where he lighted a Wand at the Chariot of the Sun, with which fire he animated his Image. Ovid. 2. M. 9 Hylas-----Favourite of Hercules, who was drown'd in a well, which made the Poets say that a Nymph had stole him away: I use the word refounds (in the prefent Tenfe) because Strabo (who lived at the fame time as Virgil) Seems to intimate, that the Prufians continued then their annual Rites to his Memory, re-, peating his name with loud Cries.

II

The Maids of Argos------Daughters of Prætis, King of Argus, who prefumed so much upon their Beauty, that they preferr'd it to Juno's, who in revenge, ftruck them with such madness, that they thought themselves Cows. They were at last cured by Melampodes with Hellebore, and for that reafon, black Hellebore is called Melampodion.

Gallus------An excellent Poet and great Friend of Virgil, he was afterwards Prator of Egypt, and being accused of fome Conspiracy, or rather called upon for fome Moneys, of which he could give no good account, he killed himfelf. It is the fame Gallus you read of in the laft Eclogue: And Suidas fays, that Virgil means him by Ariftæus, in the divine Conclufion of his Georgicks.

12 Linus, Son of Apollo and Calliope.

13 The Grynæan Grove------Confecrated to Apollo; by this he means fome Poem writ upon that subject‹ by Gallus.

14 The Megarian Maid- -Scylla, Daughter of Ni- . fus King of Megara, who falling in Love with Minos, betrayed her Father and Country to him, but he abhorring her Treason, rejected her.

Is Her who round----- Another Scylla, Daughter of Phorcis, whofe lower Parts were turned into Degs by Circe; and fhe, in despair, flung her felf into the Sea. 16 Whose only Hope------Ulyffes's Ships were not loft, though Scylla devoured feveral of his Men. 17 Eurotas------- A River in Greece whofe Banks were fhaded with Laurels; Apollo retired thither to lament the Death of his dear Hyacinthus, whom he bad accidentally killed.

The SEVENTH ECLOGUE. English'd by Mr. Adame.

This Eclogue is wholly Paftoral, and confifts of the Contention of two Shepherds, Thyrfis and Corydon, to the hearing of which Melibœeas was invited by Daphnis, and thus relates it.

W

MELIB OE U S.

Hile Daphnis fate beneath a whisp'ring shade,
Thyrfis and Corydon together fed

Their mingling Flocks; his Sheep with softest Wooll
Were cloath'd, his Goats of fweeteft Milk were full.
Both in the beauteous fpring of blooming Youth,
The worthy Pride of bleft Arcadia both, ;
Each with like Att, his tuneful Voice cou'd raise,
Each answer readily in Rural Lays;
Hither the father of my Flock had stray'd,
While shelters I for my young Myrtles made;
Here I fair Daphnis faw; when me he spy'd,
Come hither quickly, gentle Youth! he cry'd.'

Your Goat and Kids are fafe, O feek not those,
But if you've leisure, in this Shade repose:
Nither to water, the full Heifers tend,

When length'ning Shadows from the Hills defcend,
Mincius with Reeds here interweaves his bounds,
And from that facred Oak a bufie fwarm refounds.
What should I do? nor was Alcippe there,
Nor Phyllis, who might of my Lambs take care;"
Yet to my Business, I their Sports prefer.

}

For the two Swains with great Ambition ftrove, Who beft could tune his Reed, or best could fing his Love;

Alternate Verse their ready Mufes chofe;
In Verfe alternate each quick fancy flows;
Thefe fang young Corydon, young Thyrfis those.
CORYDON.

Ye much lov'd Muses! fuch a Verse bestow,
As does from Codrus, my lov'd Codrus flow;
Or if all can't obtain the Gift Divine,
My Pipe I'll confecrate on yonder Fine.

THIRSI S.

}

Y' Arcadian Swains with Ivy Wreaths adorn
Your Youth, that Codrus may with spight be torn ;
Or, if he praife too much, apply fome charm,
Left his ill Tongue your future Poet harm,

CORYDON.

These branches of a Stag, this Wild-Boar's Head,
By little Mycon's on thy Altar laid:

If this continue, Delia! thou shalt stand
Of smootheft Marble by the skilful'ft Hand.
THIRSI S.

This Milk, these Cakes, Priapus, every year
Expect, a little Garden is thy care:

Thou'rt Marble now, but if more Land I hold,
If my Flock thrive, thou shalt be made of Gold.
CORTDO N.

O Galatea! fweet as Hybla's Thyme ;

White as, more white, than Swans are in their prime,

Come, when the Herds fhall to their Stalls repair, O come, if e'er thy Corydon's thy care.

THIRSIS.

O may I harsh as bittereft Herbs appear,
Rough as wild Myrtle, vile as Sea-weeds are,
If years feem longer than this tedious day;
Hafte home my Glutton Herd, hafte haste away.
CORYDON.

Ye Moffie Springs! ye Paftures! fofter far
Than thoughtless hours of fweetest flumbers are,
Ye Shades! protect my Flock, the Heats are near;
On the glad Vines the fwelling Buds appear.
THIRSIS.

Here on my Hearth a conftant flame does play,
And the fat Vapour paints the Roof each day; -
Here we as much regard the cold North-wind
As Streams their Banks, or Wolves do Number mind.
CORTDO N.

Look how the Trees rejoice in comely Pride,
While their ripe Fruit lies scatter'd on each side;
All Nature fmiles, but if Alexis stay,

From our fad Hills the Rivers weep away.
THIRSIS.

The dying Grafs with fickly Air does fade,
No Field's unparcht, no Vines our Hills do fhade;
But if my Phyllis come, all sprouts again,
And bounteous Jove defcends in kindly Rain.
CORT DO N.

Bacchus the Vine, the Laurel Phœbus loves,
Fair Venus cherishes the Myrtle Groves,
Phyllis the Hazels loves, while Phyllis loves that Tree,
Myrtles and Laurels of lefs fame shall be.

THIRSIS.

The lofty Ash is Glory of the Woods,
The Pine of Gardens, Poplar of the Floods.:
If oft thy Swain, fair Lycidas, thou fee,

To thee the Afh fhall yield, the Pine to thee.
MELIB OE US.

These I remember well