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PASTORALS.
LANQUET. To Geron I my voice, and skill, commend, A candid umpire, and to both a friend.
GERON. Begin then, boys; and vary well your song: Begin; nor fear, from Geron's sentence, wrong. 16 A boxen hautboy, loud, and sweet of sound, All varnish'd, and with brazen ringlets bound, I to the victor give: no mean reward, If to the ruder village pipes compar'd. 20
HOBBINOL. The snows are melted; and the kindly rain Descends on every herb, and every grain: Soft balmy breezes breathe along the sky; The bloomy season of the year is nigh. 24
LANQUET. The cuckoo calls aloud his wandering love; The turtle's moan is hear'd in every grove; The pastures change; the warbling linnets sing: Prepare to welcome in the gaudy spring. 28
HOBBINOL.When locusts, in the ferny bushes, cry, When ravens pant, and snakes in caverns ly,
Graze
