SPRING.
Muse of the pastoral reed and sylvan reign, Divine inspirer of each tuneful swain, Who taught the Doric Shepherd to portray Primeval nature in his simple lay; And him of Mantua, in a nicer age, To form the graces of his artful page; O, come! where crystal Avon winds serene, And with thy presence bless the brightening scene; Now, while I rove his willowy banks along, With fond intent to wake the rural song, Inspire me, G.o.ddess! to my strains impart The force of nature, and the grace of art.
Now has the Night her dusky veil withdrawn, And, softly blushing, peeps the smiling Dawn; The lark, on quivering wings, amid the skies Pours his shrill song, inviting her to rise; The breathing Zephyrs just begin to play, Waking the flowers to steal new sweets away: And now with trembling steps, her swain to find, Fair Delia hastens to the spot a.s.sign"d: Her faithful Colin waits impatient there; How raptured to regain his long-lost fair!
COLIN.
O happiness!--and am I then so blest?
Or does a heavenly dream possess my breast?
Has not her father sternly bid us part, And for my rival claim"d his daughter"s heart?
Has not my Delia sigh"d the sad adieu?
Have I not long been banish"d from her view?
Away, ye jealous fears! ye sorrows, flee!
This letter, this! revokes the dire decree.
And lo! she comes! she comes! but why so slow, Pensive, and shy, as if oppress"d with wo?
My Delia!--
DELIA.
Colin! (_They embrace._)
COLIN.
O my Delia! tell, What dark ideas in thy bosom dwell.
Is not thy letter true? then give thy soul To love and happiness without control.
DELIA.
O generous Colin! can"st thou, then, forget The painful past, and love thy Delia yet?
Deem me not faithless; stern parental sway, Spite of my tears, constrained me to obey.
COLIN.
Faithless? O no! I knew thy father"s ire; Thy filial virtue could not but admire; Still did I hope, believe, and know thee true: The pains I suffer"d thou did"st suffer too.
Now weep no more; this bids our sufferings cease, This letter--heavenly messenger of peace!-- That promises a more propitious fate; But thou, sweet girl! the same blest news relate; Chase from thy fancy every shade of fear; Wipe from thy cheek that ill-beseeming tear; And tell thy lover all;--he burns to hear.
DELIA.
When Damon first his amorous suit addrest Thou long had"st reign"d the sovereign of my breast; My love, my heart, my soul were vow"d to thee, And none but Colin could have charms for me.
With scorn, thou know"st, his courtship I declined: O, that my thoughts had sway"d my father"s mind!
But Damon"s ampler wealth, which I despised, Too much, alas! my doting father prized.
What were thy words that sad, that trying hour, When, in submission to paternal power, I sacrificed the feelings of my heart, And faltering told thee we were doom"d to part?
"Part!--must we part, my Delia?" did"st thou say, "Alas! "tis Virtue"s law; we must obey; But still, to render absence less severe, Let us, my Love, Hope"s pleasing dictates hear.
Little of Damon, yet, thy father knows: Time his perfidious purpose will disclose; Then will thy sire his hasty choice repent; And to our loves, perhaps, may yield consent.
Meanwhile beware, my Delia, O beware!
Lest Damon"s arts thine innocence insnare."
Such were thy parting words. Now, Colin, hear!
Then will thy words prophetical appear.
Each night the favourite of my parents came To boast the matchless ardour of his flame; Still did he teaze me with his flattering strain;-- Fool, to suppose his praise could make me vain!
At length a favouring hour the traitor chose, And dared his wicked purpose to disclose.
COLIN.
Did he? O heaven! the impostor could not dare; I would, my Love, thy Colin had been there!
DELIA.
Just then, most luckily, my sire returned: Surprised, enraged, his Damon"s guilt he learn"d: Then banish"d him, (his advocate no more,) With vengeful threats for ever from his door.
COLIN.
Look! how the glorious Sun, as he ascends, His radiance o"er the dew-bright earth extends, While the last fogs of conquer"d night retreat, And Nature welcomes the reviving heat: So thy returning smiles, indulgent fair!
Dispel my fears and every jealous care.
DELIA.
No less delight to me thy smiles impart, Diffusing sunshine through my raptured heart; Hope, like yon lark, has spread her drooping wings, And, mounting up to heaven, her carol sings.
COLIN.
Observe, my Love, the beauties of the scene; The youthful year puts forth its tender green; Awakened Flora bids her flowerets rise, Opening their colours to the genial skies; Winter is fled; fair Spring"s melodious voice Whispers, in every balmy breeze, rejoice!
DELIA.
The sparkling rills dance warbling in their beds; The trees with gladness lift their fresh, green heads; From yonder wood responsive cuckoos sing; The swallow skims the stream, and dips his wing.
COLIN.
Objects and sounds of joy! yet, Delia, these, Unaided by thy presence, would not please; Though thousand charms and harmonies unite, Thy favour only crowns the full delight.
DELIA.
Now, Colin, duty summons me away; Gladly I would, but must no longer stay.
COLIN.
When duty summons we resist in vain: Yet tell me, kindest Delia, once again,-- To give me courage unalarm"d to part, And soothe, till next we meet, my restless heart,-- O tell me art thou now for ever mine?
DELIA.
Yes, Colin, now I am for ever thine.
ECLOGUE.
SUMMER.