Lull'd to repose by its reviving aid, No hunger howls beneath the friendly shade; Its leaves their fhelter o'er the whole extend, 'A' LEXIS, the pride of the plain. Befide a clear brook lay reclin'd, His complaint was fair Daphne's disdain, Who had prov'd to the fhepherd unkind. His flock was no longer his care, His pipe now no longer could please, He neglected his dress and his hair, And by folitude fed his disease, II. Poor fhepherd! he wildly exclaim'd, How How could you, Oh! Daphne, deceive, A fwain not unworthy your love? Such a maid could thy paffion approve? Her form is replete with each grace, And the rofe-bud imparts its foft dye, Philomela with envy complains, The ftreams glide in filence along, The glad Zephyrs diffuse her foft ftrains. IV. When Daphne appear'd in the mead, Now the winds roughly blow round my head, Now the warblers abandon the grove, The air breathes no longer ferene, V. Oh! Daphne, you heard my fond fighs, I enjoy not the sweets of repose, Farewell ye fad fcenes of my love, 'Twas here I firft learn'd to adore! F I will banish this wretch from her fight, With a torrent of heart-burfting grief, Tears gave him fome little relief, Yet he ceas'd not to figh and to groan, Paftora, by chance hasten'd by, She faw the poor fhepherd's defpair, Soft pity appear'd in her eye, She afk'd him the fource of his care. II. What cause has Alexis to weep? III. The fhepherd just rais'd up his head, And wish'd she could eafe his distress, Could her Int'reft with Daphne prevail, His fuff'ring fhould foon find redress. . IV. He gaz'd on the fair with furprize, And admir'd the good-nature fhe fhew'd; But with pleasure her footsteps pursu’d. V. Yet ftill his fond wish would arise, VI. With the fun the next morn he arose, And mourn'd the fad fate of his love! Paftora heard ev'ry complaint; Again he imparted his grief, He talk'd without fear or conftraint, And found from her converse, relief. VII. The friendship he felt for the fair, Each meeting ftill ferv'd to improve; He then bleft his late caufe of defpair, And became a true votary to love. 'Twas no longer for beauty he figh'd, He no longer to merit was blind, 'Twas his joy, and a laudable pride, That he valued the charms of the mind. VIII. VIII. Paftora, with blushes confeft That he felt all the force of true love, But that reafon her paffion fuppreft, Yet that now the muft own and approve. She foon gave her hand to the fwain, Who proclaim'd to each fhepherd this truth, He had met a reward for his pain, More lafting than beauty and youth. ix.. When fpring decks with verdure the mead, Love ftrews with fresh flow'rets the ground. X. Ye nymphs to this maxim attend, Ye fwains, who are caught by a face, SONG. |