TH HE weftern fky was purpled o'er And flocks reviving felt no more When from a hazel's artless bower Let fops with fickle falfhood range Whilft weeping maids lament their change, And fadden every grove: But endless bleffings crown the day I faw fair Efham's dale: And every bleffing find its way To NANCY of the vale, 'Twas 'Twas from Avona's bank, the maid And every fhining glance difplay'd Soft as the wild duck's tender young, Fresh as the bordering flowers, her bloom, Was never half fo blue. Her fhape was like the reed, fo fleek, So taper, ftrait, and fair; Her dimpled fmile, her blushing cheek, Far in the winding vale retir'd And shadowing rocks and woods confpir'd That nature in fo lone a dell Should form a nymph fo sweet! Or fortune to her fecret cell Conduct my wand'ring feet! Gay lordlings fought her for their bride, 'Tis STREPHON on the mountain's brow Struck with her charms and gentle truth And when this vow fhall faithless prove, The ftream that faw our tender love, That ftream fhall ceafe to flow. SHENSTONE. Ο 'ER moorlandsand mountainsrudebarren and bare, As wilder'd and wearied I roam, A gentle young shepherdefs fees my despair, And leads me o'er lawns to her home: Yellow fheaves from rich Ceres her cottage had crown'd, Green rushes were ftrew'd on the floor; Her casement sweet woodbines crept wantonly round, And deck'd the fod feats at her door. We fat ourselves down to a cooling repast, I told my foft wifhes, the fweetly replied I've rich ones rejected and great ones denied, Her air was fo modeft, her aspect so meek, So fimple, yet fweet were her charms, I kifs'd I kiss'd the ripe roses that glow'd on her cheek, Together we range o'er the flow rifing hills, Or reft on the rock whence the ftreamlet diftills, The cottager Peace is well known for her fire. CUNNINGHAM. A Paftoral BALLAD, in Four Parts. I. ABSENCE. E fhepherds fo chearful and gay, Whofe flocks never carelessly roam; Should CORY DON's happen to stray, Oh! call the poor wanderers home. Allow |