Whilft fragrant air fans thy poetic fire,
And pleafant groves with fprightly notes infpire,
Groves, whofe receffes and refreshing fhade
Indulge th' invention, and the judgment aid)
1, 'midft the fmoke and clamours of the town,
That choke my Mufe, and weigh my fancy down,
Pafs my unactive hours ;-

IÓ

In fuch an air, how can foft numbers flow,
Or in fuch foil the facred laurel grow?
All we can boaft of the poetic fire,
Are but some sparks that foon as born expire.
Hail happy woods! harbours of peace and joy!
Where no black cares the mind's repofe deftroy!
Where grateful Silence unmolefted reigns,
Affifts the Mufe, and quickens all her ftrains.
Such were the fcenes of our first parents' love,
In Eden's groves with equal flames they ftrové,
While warbling birds, foft whifpering breaths of

wind,

20

And murmuring ftreams, to grace their nuptials join'd.

25

50

All nature fmil'd; the plains were fresh and
green,
Unftain'd the fountains, and the heavens ferene.
Ye bleft remains of that illuftrious age!
Delightful springs and woods!--
Might I with you my peaceful days live o'er,
You, and my friend, whofe abfence I deplore,
Calm as a gentle brook's unruffled tide
Should the delicious flowing minutes glide;
Difcharg'd of care, on unfrequented plains,
We'd fing of rural joys in rural strains.
No falfe corrupt delight our thoughts should move,
But joys of friendship, poetry, and love.
While others fondly feed ambition's fire,
And to the top of human ftate afpire,
That from their airy eminence they may
With pride and fcorn th' inferior world furvey,
Here we should dwell obfcure, yet happier far
than they.

35

V E R S E S PRESENTED TO A LADY, A DRAWING (BY THE AUTHOR) OF

W

CUPID.

HEN generous Dido in difguife carefs'd This god, and ferdly claip'd him to her breaft,

With humble zeal Heaven's dread commands,
To every action afk'd our aid,
And oft before our altars pray'd;
Pure was her heart, and undefil'd her hands.
She's dead-and from her fweet remains
The wond'rous mixture I would take,
This much deûr'd this perfect flower to make.
Affift, and thus with our transforming pains,
We'll dignify the garden-beds, and grace our fa-
vourite plains.

Th' applauding deitics with pleafure heard,
And for the grateful work prepar'd.

A bufy face the god of gardens wore;
Vertumnus of the party too,

45

255

50

SIX

From various fweets th' exhaling fpirits drew, While, in full canisters, Pomona bore

Of richelt fwcets a plenteous ftore;

Aud Vefta promis'd wondrous things to do. Gay Venus led a lively train

55

Of Smiles and Graces: the plump god of wine

From clusters did the flowing nectar strain,
And fill d large goblets with his juice divine. 60
Thus charg'd, they feek the honour'd shade
Where liv d and died the fpotlefs maid.
On a foft couch of turf the body lay ;
Th' approaching deities prefs'd all around,
Prepar'd the facred rites to pay

85

In filence, and with awe profound. Flora thrice bow'd, and thus was heard to pray. Jove mighty Jove! whom all adore; Exert thy great creative power!

69

CANTATA S

OR

POEMS FOR MUSIC

AFTER THE MANNER OF THE ITALIANS.

SET TO MUSIC BY MR. PEPUSCH.

"Non ante vulgatas per artes, Verba loquor focianda chordis."

CANTATA I.

HOR.

HEN Beauty's goddefs from the ocean fprung,

Afcending, o'er the waves the caft a finile On fair Britannia's happy ifle,

And rais'd her tuneful voice, and thus she sung.

AIR.

Hail Britannia! hail to thee,
Fairest island of the fea!

Thou my favourite land fhalt be.

Cyprus too fhall own thy fway,

And dedicate to me its groves;

Yet Venus and her train of Loves I Will with happier Britain stay. Hail Britannia! hail to thee, Faireft ifland of the fea!

7 hou my favourite land fhalt be

To cafe the pain. which lovely eyes
Created in his heart.

To faining theatres he now repairs,
To learn Camilla's moving airs,

5

Where thus to Mufic's power the fwain addrefs'd

his prayers.

AIR.

Hark, his amorous breezes blow!
Fragrant Flora: hafte, appear!
Goddess of the youthful year!

Zephyr gently courts thee now.
KECITATIVE.

Thus on a fruitful hill, in the fair bloom of spring,
The tuneful Colinet his voice did raise,
The v. les remurmur'd with his lays,
And liftening birds hung hovering on the wing,
In whifpering fighs foft Zephyr by him flew,
While thus the thepherd did his fong renew.
AIR.

Love and pleasures gaily flowing,
Come this charming feafon grace!
Smile, ye fair! your joys bestowing,
Spring and youth will foon be going,
Seize the bieffings er: they pafs:
Love and pleafures gaily flowing,
Come this charming feafon grace!

CANT ATA

MIRANDA.

RECITATIVE.

Mufic, O compofe my anguish!

Every paffion yields to thee;

Phabus, quickly then relieve me;
Cupid fhall no more deceive me ;
I'll to fprightlier joys be free.
RECITATIVE.

Apollo heard the foolish fwain;

He knew, when Daphne once he lov'd, 15 How weak, t' affuage an amorous pain, His own harmonious art had prov'd, And all his healing herbs how vain. Then thus he ftrikes the fpeaking strings, Preluding to his voice, and fings.

AIR,

20

Sounds, though charming, can't relieve thee; Do not, fhepherd, then deceive thee,

Mufic is the voice of love,

If the tender maid believe thee,

Apollo did thefe grateful praises pay.

AIR.

Matchlefs charmer! thine fhall be The highest prize of harmony. Phoebus ever will infpire thee,

IV.

15

20

And the applauding world admire thee; Io All fhall in thy praife agree.

Matchlefs charmer! thine fhall be

he higheft prize of harmony.

RECITA IVE.

The god then fummon'd every Muse t' appear,
And hail their fifter of the quire;
Smiling they food around, her foothing strains to

hear,

And fill'd her happy foul with all their fire.

AIR.

O harmony how wondrous fweet,
Doft thou our cares allay!

When all thy moving graces meet,

15

20

How foftly doft thou fteal our ea y hours away!

O harmony how wondrous fweet,
Doft thou our cares allay!

CANTATA

W

CORYDON.

RECITATIVE.

v.

HILE Corydon the lonely fhepherd try'd
His tuneful flute, and charm'd the grove,
The jealous nightingales, that ftrove

To trace his notes, contending dy'd;

At last heas within a myrtle fhade

An echo answer al his ftrain;