The silver swans her hapless fate bemoan, In notes more sad than when they sing their own ; In hollow caves sweet Echo silent lies, Silent, or only to her name replies; Her name with pleasure once she taught the shore; No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings, [high But see! where Daphne wondering mounts on Above the clouds, above the starry sky! Eternal beauties grace the shining scene, Fields ever fresh, and groves for ever green! There while you rest in amaranthine bowers, Lyc. How all things listen, while thy Muse complains! Such silence waits on Philomela's strains, In some still evening, when the whispering breeze While plants their shade, or flowers their odours give, Thy name, thy honour, and thy praise shall live! Sharp Boreas blows, and Nature feels decay, MESSIAH. A SACRED ECLOGUE. IN IMITATION OF VIRGIL'S POLLIO. ADVERTISEMENT. In reading several passages of the prophet Isaiah, which foretel the coming of Christ, and the felicities attending it; I could not but observe a remarkable parity between many of the thoughts and those in the Pollio of Virgil. This will not seem surprising, when we reflect that the eclogue was taken from a sibylline prophecy on the same subject. One may judge that Virgil did not copy it line by line, but selected such ideas as best agreed with the nature of pastoral poetry, and disposed them in that manner which served most to beautify his piece. I have endeavoured the same in this imitation of him, though without admitting any thing of my own; since it was written with this particular view, that the reader, by comparing the several thoughts, might see how far the images and descriptions of the prophet are superior to those of the poet. But as I fear I have prejudiced them by my management, I shall subjoin the passages of Isaiah, and those of Virgil, under the same disadvantage of a literal translation. Ye nymphs of Solyma! begin the song: ♦ Rapt into future times, the bard begun ; 2 Whose sacred flower with fragrance fills the skies; Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend, 1 Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 6. IMITATIONS. Jam redit et virgo, redeunt Saturnia regna; Te duce, si qua manent sceleris vestigia nostri, Now the virgin returns, now the kingdom of Saturn returns, now a new progeny is sent down from high heaven. By means of thee, whatever relics of our crimes remain shall be wiped away, and free the world from perpetual fears. He shall govern the earth in peace, with the virtues of his father.' Isaiah, ch. vii. ver. 14, 'Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son.'-Chap. ix. ver. 6, 7: Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, the Prince of Peace of the increase of his government, and of his peace, there shall be no end upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order and to establish it, with judgment, and with justice, for ever and ever.' 2 Isa. xi. ver. 1. 3 Ch, xiv ver. 8. 4 Ch. xxv. ver. 4. 5 Ch. ix. ver. 7. See Nature hastes her earliest wreathes to bring 6, 6 IMITATIONS. Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 18. At tibi prima, puer, nullo munuscula cultu, For thee, O child, shall the earth, without being tilled, produce her early offerings; winding ivy, mixed with baccar, and colocasia, with smiling acanthus. Thy cradle shall pour forth pleasing flowers, about thee.' Isaiah, ch. xxxv. ver. 1. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.'-Ch. Ix. ver. 13: The glory of Lebanon shall comè unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of thy sanctuary." 7 Chap. xxxv. ver. 2. 8 Virg. Ecl. iv. ver. 46. Aggredere O magnos, aderit jam tempus, honores, Intonsi montes, ipse jam carmina rupes, Ecl. v. ver. 62. "O come and receive the mighty honours: the time draws nigh, beloved offspring of the Gods, O great increase of "Jove! The uncultivated mountains send shouts of joy to the stars, the very rocks sing in verse, the very shrubs cry out, A God, a God! Isaiah, chap. xl. ver. 3, 4. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord! make straight |