The Works of Virgil (Dryden)/Pastorals (Dryden)/Book 7

by Virgil

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The Seventh Pastoral.

OR,

MELIBOEUS.

The ARGUMENT.

Melibœus here gives us the Relation of a sharp Poetical Contest between Thyrsis and Corydon; at which he himself and Daphnis were present; who both declar'd for Corydon.

Eneath a Holm, repair'd two jolly Swains;
Their Sheep and Goats together graz'd the Plains.
Both young Arcadians, both alike inspir'd
To sing, and answer as the Song requir'd.
Daphnis, as Umpire, took the middle Seat;5
And Fortune thether led my weary Feet.
For while I fenc'd my Myrtles from the Cold,
The Father of my Flock had wander'd from the Fold.
Of Daphnis I enquir'd; he, smiling, said,
Dismiss your Fear, and pointed where he fed.10
And, if no greater Cares disturb your Mind,
Sit here with us, in covert of the Wind.

Illustration of Pastoral 7, "Beneath a Holm, repair'd two jolly Swains"

Your lowing Heifars, of their own accord,
At wat'ring time will seek the neighb'ring Ford.
Here wanton Mincius windes along the Meads,15
And shades his happy Banks with bending Reeds:
And see from yon old Oak, that mates the Skies,
How black the Clouds of swarming Bees arise.
What shou'd I do! nor was Alcippe nigh,
Nor absent Phillis cou'd my care supply,20
To house, and feed by hand my weaning Lambs,
And drain the strutting Udders of their Dams?
Great was the strife betwixt the Singing Swains:
And I preferr'd my Pleasure to my Gains.
Alternate Rhime the ready Champions chose:25
These Corydon rehears'd, and Thyrsis those.

CORYDON.

Ye Muses, ever fair, and ever young,

Assist my Numbers, and inspire my Song.
With all my Codrus O inspire my Breast,
For Codrus after Phœbus sings the best.30
Or if my Wishes have presum'd too high,
And stretch'd their bounds beyond Mortality,
The praise of artful Numbers I resign:
And hang my Pipe upon the Sacred Pine.

THYRSIS.

Arcadian Swains, your Youthful Poet crown35

With Ivy Wreaths; tho surly Codrus frown.
Or if he blast my Muse with envious Praise,
Then fence my Brows with Amuletts of Bays.

Lest his ill Arts or his malicious Tongue
Shou'd poyson, or bewitch my growing Song.40

CORYDON.

These Branches of a Stag, this tusky Boar

(The first essay of Arms untry'd before)
Young Mycon offers, Delia, to thy Shrine;
But speed his hunting with thy Pow'r divine,
Thy Statue then of Parian Stone shall stand;45
Thy Legs in Buskins with a Purple Band.

THYRSIS.

This Bowl of Milk, these Cakes, (our Country Fare,)$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

For thee, Priapus, yearly we prepare.
Because a little Garden is thy care.
But if the falling Lambs increase my Fold,50
Thy Marble Statue shall be turn'd to Gold.

CORYDON.

Fair Galatea, with thy silver Feet,

O, whiter than the Swan, and more than Hybla sweet;
Tall as a Poplar, taper as the Bole,
Come charm thy Shepherd, and restore my Soul.55
Come when my lated Sheep, at night return;
And crown the silent Hours, and stop the rosy Morn.

THYRSIS.

May I become as abject in thy sight,

As Sea-weed on the Shore, and black as Night:
Rough as a Bur, deform'd like him who chaws60
Sardinian Herbage to contract his Jaws;

Such and so monstrous let thy Swain appear,
If one day's Absence looks not like a Year.
Hence from the Field, for Shame: the Flock deserves
No better Feeding, while the Shepherd starves.65

CORYDON.

Ye mossy Springs, inviting easie Sleep,

Ye Trees, whose leafy Shades those mossy Fountains keep,
Defend my Flock, the Summer heats are near,
And Blossoms on the swelling Vines appear.

THYRSIS.

With heapy Fires our chearful Hearth is crown'd;70

And Firs for Torches in the Woods abound:
We fear not more the Winds, and wintry Cold,
Than Streams the Banks, or Wolves the bleating Fold.

CORYDON.

Our Woods, with Juniper and Chesnuts crown'd,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

With falling Fruits and Berries paint the Ground;75
And lavish Nature laughs, and strows her Stores around.
But if Alexis from our Mountains fly,
Ev'n running Rivers leave their Channels dry.

THYRSIS.

Parch'd are the Plains, and frying is the Field,

Nor with'ring Vines their juicy Vintage yield.80
But if returning Phillis bless the Plain,
The Grass revives; the Woods are green again;
And Jove descends in Show'rs of kindly Rain.

CORYDON.

The Poplar is by great Alcides worn:

The Brows of Phœbus his own Bays adorn.85

The branching Vine the jolly Bacchus loves;
The Cyprian Queen delights in Myrtle Groves.
With Hazle, Phillis crowns her flowing Hair,$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
And while she loves that common Wreath to wear;
Nor Bays, nor Myrtle Bows, with Hazle shall compare.

THYRSIS.

The towring Ash is fairest in the Woods;

In Gardens Pines, and Poplars by the Floods:
But if my Lycidas will ease my Pains,
And often visit our forsaken Plains;
To him the tow'ring Ash shall yield in Woods;95
In Gardens Pines, and Poplars by the Floods.

MELIBOEUS.

The Rhymes I did to Memory commend,

When Vanquish'd Thyrsis did in vain contend;
Since when, 'tis Corydon among the Swains,
Young Corydon without a Rival Reigns.100