THE PROGRESS OF LOVE.

IN FOUR ECLOGUES.

I. UNCERTAINTY. To Mr. POPE. II. HOPE. To the Hon. GEORGE DODDINGTON. III. JEALOUSY. TO EDWARD WALPOLE, Esq; IV. POSSESSION. To the Right Hon. the Lord Viscount COBHAM.

UNCERTAINTY. ECLOCUE I. To Mr. POPE.

OPE, to whofe reed beneath the beachen shade,

POPER

The Nymphs of Thames a pleas'd attention paid; While yet thy Mufe, content with humbler praife, Warbled in Windfor's grove her sylvan lays; Though now, fublimely borne on Homer's wing, Of glorious wars and godlike chiefs she sing : Wilt thou with me revifit once again The crystal fountain, and the flowery plain? Wilt thou, indulgent, hear my verse relate The various changes of a lover's state; And, while each turn of paffion I pursue, Afk thy own heart if what I tell be true?

To the green margin of a lonely wood,

Whofe pendent shades o’erlook'd a filver flood,

Young Damon came, unknowing where he stray'd,
Full of the image of his beauteous maid :
His flock, far off, unfed, untended, lay,
To every favage a defenceless prey;

No fenfe of intereft could their mafter move,
And every care feem'd trifling now but love.
A while in penfive filence he remain`d, -

But, though his voice was mute, his looks complain'd;
At length the thoughts within his bofom pent
Forc'd his unwilling tongue to give them vent.
"Ye nymphs, he cried, ye Dryads, who fo long
"Have favor'd Damon, and infpir'd his fong;
« For whom, retir'd, I fhun the gay reforts
"Of fportful cities, and of pompous courts;
"In vain I bid the restless world adieu,
"To feek tranquillity and peace with you.
"Though wild Ambition, and deftructive Rage,
"No factions here can form, no wars can wage:
"Though Envy frowns not on your humble fhades,
"Nor Calumny your innocence invades :

"Yet cruel Love, that troubler of the breaft,

"Too often violates your boafted reft;

"With inbred ftorms difturbs your calm retreat, "And taints with bitterness each rurál fweet.

"Ah lucklefs day! when first with fond surprize "On Delia's face I fix'd my eager eyes! "Then in wild tumults all my foul was toft, "Then reafon, liberty, at once were loft:

"And

"And every wish, and thought, and care, was gone, "But what my heart employ'd on her alone.

"Then too she smil'd: can smiles our peace destroy, "Those lovely children of Content and Joy? "How can foft pleasure and tormenting woe "From the fame fpring at the fame moment flow? "Unhappy boy these vain enquiries cease,

"Thought could not guard, nor will reftore, thy peace :: "Indulge the frenzy that thou must endure,

"And footh the pain thou know'st not how to cure, "Come, flattering Memory! and tell my heart. "How kind she was, and with what pleasing art "She ftrove its fondeft wishes to obtain, "Confirm her power, and faster bind my chain. "If on the green we danc'd, a mirthful band; "To me alone fhe gave her willing hand: "Her partial tafte, if e'er I touch'd the lyre, "Still in my song found something to adınire. "By none but her my crook with flowers was crown'd, "By none but her my brows with ivy bound: "The world that Damon was her choice believ'd, "The world, alas! like Damon, was deceiv'd. "When last I faw her, and declar'd my fire "In words as foft as paffion could inspire, "Coldly fhe heard, and full of fcorn withdrew, "Without one pitying glance, one sweet adieu. "The frighted hind, who fees his ripen'd corn. "Up from the roots by fudden tempests torn, "Whofe fairest hopes deftroy'd and blafted lie, Feels not fo keen a pang of grief as I.

"Ah, how have I deferv'd, inhuman maid,
"To have my faithful fervice thus repaid?
"Were all the marks of kindness I receiv'd,
"But dreams of joy, that charm'd me and deceiv'd?
"Or did you only nurse my growing love,
"That with more pain I might your hatred prove?
Sure guilty treachery no place could find
"In fuch a gentle, fuch a generous mind:
"A maid brought up the woods and wilds among
"Could ne'er have learnt the art of courts fo young :
"No; let me rather think her anger feign'd,
"Still let me hope my Delia may be gain'd;
"'Twas only modefty that feem'd difdain,
"And her heart fuffer'd when he gave me pain.”
Pleas'd with this flattering thought, the love-fick boy
Felt the faint dawning of a doubtful joy;
Back to his flock more chearful he return'd,

When now the setting fun more fiercely burn'd,
Blue vapours rofe along the mazy rills,
And light's last blushes ting'd the distant hills.

HOPE. ECLOGUE II.

To Mr. DoDDINGTON.

[Afterwards LORD MELCOMBE REGIS.]

H

EAR, Doddington, the notes that shepherds fing,

Like those that warbling hail the genial spring. Nor Pan, nor Phoebus, tunes our artless reeds : From Love alone their melody proceeds.

From

From Love, Theocritus, on Enna's plains,
Learnt the wild fweetnefs of his Doric ftrains.
Young Maro, touch'd by his infpiring dart,
Could charm each ear, and foften every heart:
Me too his power has reach'd, and bids with thine.
My ruftic pipe in pleafing concert join *.

Damon no longer fought the filent shade,,
No more in unfrequented paths he stray'd,
But call'd the fwains to hear his jocund song,
And told his joy to all the rural throng..

"Bleft be the hour, he faid, that happy hour, "When first I own'd my Delia's gentle power; "Thien gloomy discontent and pining care"Forfook my breast, and left soft wishes there; "Soft withes there they left, and gay defires, "Delightful languors, and tranfporting fires. "Where yonder limes combine to form a shade, "These eyes first gaz'd upon the charming maid; "There she appear'd, on that aufpicious day,

"When fwains their sportives rites to Bacchus pay :: "She led the dance-heavens! with what grace the "mov'd!

"Who could have feen her then, and not have lov'd? "I ftrove not to refift so sweet a flame,

"But gloried in a happy captive's name;

"Nor would I now, could Love permit, be free,, "But leave to brutes their favage liberty..

* Mr. Doddington had written fome very pretty loveverfes, which have never been published. LYTTELT..