"On a sudden I grew greater than myself: I was fraught with new virtue and new inspiration. I sung of war, and heroes; and disdained the simple pastoral strain. And after my destiny had brought me back to these woods, I still retained a part of that spirit: nor has my pipe the humble sound it once had; but with a lofty and sonorous tone, it emulates the trumpet, and makes the forest ring."
Elpinus too, a principal character in this piece, had received very distinguished honours at court. He is represented as a great poet, and a great philosopher; the favourite of Apollo, and the counsellor of the afflicted. When Thyrsis is afraid that his friend Amyntas hath killed himfelf, he says;
Del faggio Elpino; ivi, s'è vivo, forse
Şarà ridotto, ove sovente suole
Raddolcir gli amarissimi martiri
Al dolce suon de la sampogna chiara,
Ch'ad udir trahe da gli alti monti i sassi;
E correr sa di puro latti i fiumi;
E stillar mele da le dure scorze.
Act iii. Scene I.
"I will go to the cave of the sage Elpinus: there probably he will be, if he is yet alive:"there
