PROLOGUE.
Amyntas' bosom, who, as yet a boy,
By Sylvia's side still felt a secret joy;
Still at the chace with Sylvia scoured the plains,
And joined in all the pastimes of the swains.
And that my shaft it's errand well may go,
And make a thorough victim of my foe,
The tender, lucky moment I'll espy,
When pity from her soul darts to her eye;
When, listening to his tale of artless truth,
She sheds soft glances on the constant youth.
Then when her virgin ice dissolves away,
Then when her ear endures his amorous lay,
When she forgets each frown, each female whim,
I'll pierce her through, and make her bleed like him.
By Sylvia's side still felt a secret joy;
Still at the chace with Sylvia scoured the plains,
And joined in all the pastimes of the swains.
And that my shaft it's errand well may go,
And make a thorough victim of my foe,
The tender, lucky moment I'll espy,
When pity from her soul darts to her eye;
When, listening to his tale of artless truth,
She sheds soft glances on the constant youth.
Then when her virgin ice dissolves away,
Then when her ear endures his amorous lay,
When she forgets each frown, each female whim,
I'll pierce her through, and make her bleed like him.
Coy Sylvia now is hastening to the plain,
Where spotless mirth oft chears the nymph and swain;
Where to the dance, the song, and rural play,
The happy throng devote this sestal day.
Thither will I in shepherd's garb repair,
Mix with the peasants, in their pleasure share;
And at the crisis let my arrow fly,
Too swift, and fine to meet a mortal eye.
Where spotless mirth oft chears the nymph and swain;
Where to the dance, the song, and rural play,
The happy throng devote this sestal day.
Thither will I in shepherd's garb repair,
Mix with the peasants, in their pleasure share;
And at the crisis let my arrow fly,
Too swift, and fine to meet a mortal eye.
These wondering woods, and rivulets, to-day,
Shall echo an unusual amorous lay;
And by it's energy it shall appear
The deity of love himself is here.
I, as I list, the human frame controul;
Í mollify, and raise the rudest soul;
By me the clown imbibes rich fancy's store,
And rustick tongues fine elocution pour:
And whilst my flame inspires the shepherd's thought,
His reed shall emulate a Pindar's note.
Shall echo an unusual amorous lay;
And by it's energy it shall appear
The deity of love himself is here.
I, as I list, the human frame controul;
Í mollify, and raise the rudest soul;
By me the clown imbibes rich fancy's store,
And rustick tongues fine elocution pour:
And whilst my flame inspires the shepherd's thought,
His reed shall emulate a Pindar's note.
I gene-
