38
PASTORALS.
"There, with the crowd, a nightingale of fame,
"Jealous, and fond of praise, to listen came:
She turn'd her ear, and pause by pause, with pride,
"Like echo to the shepherd's pipe reply'd.
"The shepherd heard with wonder, and again,
"To try her more, renew'd his various strain: 40
"To all the various strain the plies her throat,
"And adds peculiar grace to every note.
"If Colin, in complaining accent grieve,
"Or brisker motion to his measure give, 44
"If gentle sounds he modulate, or strong,
"She, not a little vain, repeats the song:
"But so repeats, that Colin half despis'd
"His pipe and skill, around the country priz'd: 48
"And sweetest songster of the winged kind,
"What thanks, said he, what praises shall I find
"To equal thy melodious voice? In thee
"The rudeness of my rural fife I see; 52
"From thee I learn no more to vaunt my skill:
"Aloft in air she sate, provoking still
"The vanquish'd swain. Provok'd, at last, he strove
"To shew the little minstrel of the grove 56
"Jealous, and fond of praise, to listen came:
She turn'd her ear, and pause by pause, with pride,
"Like echo to the shepherd's pipe reply'd.
"The shepherd heard with wonder, and again,
"To try her more, renew'd his various strain: 40
"To all the various strain the plies her throat,
"And adds peculiar grace to every note.
"If Colin, in complaining accent grieve,
"Or brisker motion to his measure give, 44
"If gentle sounds he modulate, or strong,
"She, not a little vain, repeats the song:
"But so repeats, that Colin half despis'd
"His pipe and skill, around the country priz'd: 48
"And sweetest songster of the winged kind,
"What thanks, said he, what praises shall I find
"To equal thy melodious voice? In thee
"The rudeness of my rural fife I see; 52
"From thee I learn no more to vaunt my skill:
"Aloft in air she sate, provoking still
"The vanquish'd swain. Provok'd, at last, he strove
"To shew the little minstrel of the grove 56
"His
