Part 4 (2/2)

Come thou, whose thoughts as limpid springs are clear, To lead the train, sweet Modesty, appear: Here make thy court amidst our rural scene, 55 And shepherd girls shall own thee for their queen: With thee be Chast.i.ty, of all afraid, Distrusting all, a wise suspicious maid, But man the most:--not more the mountain doe Holds the swift falcon for her deadly foe. 60 Cold is her breast, like flowers that drink the dew; A silken veil conceals her from the view.

No wild desires amidst thy train be known; But Faith, whose heart is fix'd on one alone: Desponding Meekness, with her downcast eyes, 65 And friendly Pity, full of tender sighs; And Love the last: by these your hearts approve; These are the virtues that must lead to love.'

Thus sung the swain; and ancient legends say The maids of Bagdat verified the lay: 70 Dear to the plains, the Virtues came along, The shepherds loved, and Selim bless'd his song.

VARIATIONS.

Ver.

8. No praise the youth, but hers alone desired:

13. When sweet and odorous, like an eastern bride,

30. Balsora's pearls have more of worth than they:

31. Drawn from the deep, they sparkle to the sight, And all-unconscious shoot a l.u.s.trous light:

46. The fair-eyed Truth, and daughters bless'd their love.

53. O come, thou Modesty, as they decree, The rose may then improve her blush by thee.

69. Thus sung the swain, and eastern legends say

FOOTNOTES:

[10] In the Persian tongue, Abbas signifieth ”the father of the people.”

[11] The gulf of that name, famous for the pearl fishery.

ECLOGUE II.

Ha.s.sAN; OR, THE CAMEL DRIVER.

SCENE, The desert.

TIME, Midday.

In silent horror o'er the boundless waste The driver Ha.s.san with his camels past: One cruise of water on his back he bore, And his light scrip contain'd a scanty store; A fan of painted feathers in his hand, 5 To guard his shaded face from scorching sand.

The sultry sun had gain'd the middle sky, And not a tree, and not an herb was nigh; The beasts with pain their dusty way pursue; Shrill roar'd the winds, and dreary was the view! 10 With desperate sorrow wild, the affrighted man Thrice sigh'd, thrice struck his breast, and thus began: 'Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, 'When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way!'

'Ah! little thought I of the blasting wind, 15 The thirst, or pinching hunger, that I find!

Bethink thee, Ha.s.san, where shall thirst a.s.suage, When fails this cruise, his unrelenting rage?

Soon shall this scrip its precious load resign; Then what but tears and hunger shall be thine? 20

'Ye mute companions of my toils, that bear In all my griefs a more than equal share!

Here, where no springs in murmurs break away, Or moss-crown'd fountains mitigate the day, In vain ye hope the green delights to know, 25 Which plains more blest, or verdant vales bestow: Here rocks alone, and tasteless sands, are found, And faint and sickly winds for ever howl around.

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