FLORELIO.
21
"Nor fly the wintry winds nor scorching sun, 95
"Now he, for whom they strove to charm, is gone.
“Oft' they beneath their reedy coverts sigh'd,
“And look'd, and long'd, and for Florelio dy'd:
"Of him they sang, and with soft ditties strove
"To sooth the pleasing agonies of love; 100
"But now they roam, distracted with despair,
"And cypress, twin'd with mournful willows, wear."
Thus hand in hand around his grave they go,
And saffron buds and fading lilies strow,
With sprigs of myrtle mix'd, and scatt'ring cry, 105
“So sweet and soft the shepherd was! so soon decreed to die!"
There fresh, in dear remembrance of their woes,
His name the young anemonies disclose;
Nor strange they should a double grief avow,
Then Venus wept, and Pastorélla now. 110
Breathe soft, ye Winds! long let them paint the plain
Unhurt, untouch'd by ev'ry passing swain.
And when, ye Nymphs! to make the garlands gay,
With which ye crown'd the Mistress of the May,
Ye shall these flow'rs to bind her temples take, 115
O pluck them gently for Florelio's sake!
And when thro' Woodstock's green retreats ye stray,
Or Althrop's flow'ry vales invite to play,
O'er which young Pastorella's beauties bring
Elysium early, and improve the spring; 120
"Now he, for whom they strove to charm, is gone.
“Oft' they beneath their reedy coverts sigh'd,
“And look'd, and long'd, and for Florelio dy'd:
"Of him they sang, and with soft ditties strove
"To sooth the pleasing agonies of love; 100
"But now they roam, distracted with despair,
"And cypress, twin'd with mournful willows, wear."
Thus hand in hand around his grave they go,
And saffron buds and fading lilies strow,
With sprigs of myrtle mix'd, and scatt'ring cry, 105
“So sweet and soft the shepherd was! so soon decreed to die!"
There fresh, in dear remembrance of their woes,
His name the young anemonies disclose;
Nor strange they should a double grief avow,
Then Venus wept, and Pastorélla now. 110
Breathe soft, ye Winds! long let them paint the plain
Unhurt, untouch'd by ev'ry passing swain.
And when, ye Nymphs! to make the garlands gay,
With which ye crown'd the Mistress of the May,
Ye shall these flow'rs to bind her temples take, 115
O pluck them gently for Florelio's sake!
And when thro' Woodstock's green retreats ye stray,
Or Althrop's flow'ry vales invite to play,
O'er which young Pastorella's beauties bring
Elysium early, and improve the spring; 120
