Page:Poems, Consisting Chiefly of Translations from the Asiatick Languages.djvu/149

Now, a purer blush o'erspreads her cheeks,
With soothing accents thus Sirena speaks:

"The meads and lawns are ting'd with beamy light,
And wakeful larks begin their vocal flight;
Whilst on each bank the dewdrops sweetly smile;
What sport, my Delia, shall the hours beguile?
Whall heavenly notes, prolong'd with various art,
Charm the fond ear, and warm the rapturous heart?
At distance shall we view the sylvan chace?
Or catch with silken lines the finny race?"

Then Delia thus: "Or rather, since we meet
By chance assembled in this cool retreat,
In artful contest let our warlike train
Move well-directed o'er the field preside:
No prize we need, our ardour to inflame;
We fight with pleasure, if we fight for fame."

The nymph consents: the maids and youths prepare
To view the combat, and the sport to share: