O, more than all in powerful genius blest, O might some verse with happiest skill persuade 106 What wondrous draughts might rise from every page! What other Raphaels charm a distant age! Methinks ev'n now I view some free design, Where breathing Nature lives in every line: VARIATIONS. Ver. 101. This passage originally stood thus; Methinks ev'n now I view some fair design, 110 115 Chaste and subdu'd the modest lights decay, Lifts the torn robe, and points the bleeding wound. But who is he, whose brows exalted bear 121 A wrath impatient, and a fiercer air? Awake to all that injur'd worth can feel, On his own Rome he turns th' avenging steel; Yet shall not war's insatiate fury fall 125 (So heaven ordains it) on the destin'd wall. See the fond mother, 'midst the plaintive train, VARIATION. Ver. 122. This passage originally stood thus ; Ev'n now his thoughts with euger vengeance doom The frantic mother leads their wild despair, Beats her swoln breast, and rends her silver hair; And see, he yields! the tears unbidden start, See the tragedy of Julius Cæsar. Coriolanus. See Mr. Spence's Dialogue on the Odyssey. Touch'd to the soul, in vain he strives to hide 130 Thus, generous Critic, as thy Bard inspires, The sister Arts shall nurse their drooping fires; Each from his scenes her stores alternate bring, 135 Blend the fair tints, or wake the vocal string: Those sibyl-leaves, the sport of every wind, (For poets ever were a careless kind,) By thee dispos'd, no farther toil demand, But, just to Nature, own thy forming hand. 140 So spread o'er Greece, th' harmonious whole un Ev'n Homer's numbers charm'd by parts alone. When, rais'd by fate, some former Hanmer join'd A fond alliance with the Poet's name. Oxford, Dec. 3, 1743. VARIATIONS. Ver. 136. Originally, Spread the fair tints, etc. Ver. 146. Originally, Each beauteous image of the tuneful mind; DIRGE IN CYMBELINE, SUNG BY GUIDERUS AND ARVIRAGUS OVER FIDELE, To fair Fidele's grassy tomb Soft maids and village hinds shall bring No wailing ghost shall dare appear To vex with shrieks this quiet grove; But shepherd lads assemble here, And melting virgins own their love. No wither'd witch shall here be seen; No goblins lead their nightly crew:\ 5 10 The female fays shall haunt the green, VARIATIONS. Ver. 1. The Gentleman's Magazine (see notes on this poem) reads; To fair Pastora's grassy tomb Ver. 7. The G. M. has; But shepherd swains assemble here, Ver. 12. In the G. M. thus; And dress thy bed with pearly dew! The redbreast oft, at evening hours, To deck the ground where thou art laid. When howling winds and beating rain, In tempests shake the sylvan cell; 15 Or 'midst the chase, on every plain, The tender thought on thee shall dwell; 20 Each lonely scene shall thee restore; For thee the tear be duly shed; Belov'd till life can charm no more, And mourn'd till Pity's self be dead. VARIATIONS. Ver. 17. In the G. M. thus ; When chiding winds, and beating rain, In tempest shake the sylvan cell; Or 'midst the flocks, etc. Ver. 21. In the G. M. thus; Each lovely scene shall thee restore; Ver. 23. Dodsley, in his Coll. of Poems, and Dr. Johnson, in his edition of Shakspeare, read; Belov'd till life could charm no more. |