MONODY I. MUSAEUS: TO THE MEMORY OF MR. POPE. BY THE REV. WILLIAM MASON, M. A. SORROWING I catch the reed, and call the Muse; If yet a Muse on Britain's plain abide, Since rapt MUSAEUS tun'd his parting strain : With him they liv'd, with him perchance they dy'd. For who e'er since their virgin train espy'd, Or on the banks of Thames, or that mild plain, Where Isis sparkles to the sunny ray ? Or have they deign'd to play, Where Camus winds along his broider'd vale, Yet ah! celestial maids, ye are not dead; Stay then awhile, O stay, ye fleeting fair; Nor Thespia's shade; 'till your harmonious teen To what lov'd haunt you whilom did elect; And haste to Thames's shores; for Thames shall join, Letting cold tears bedew his silver urn. And, when the poet's wither'd grot he laves, His reed-crown'd locks shall shake, his head shall bow, But creep soft by with long-drawn murmurs slow. Can I forget how erst his osiers made How, 'midst yon grot, each silver-trickling spring And sunk his awful head, While vocal shadows pleasing dreams prolong : First, sent from Cam's fair banks, like Palmer old, For mich gode wirkè to me don and past. Old Time, which alle things don maliciously, Gnattrid my lines, that they all cancrid ben, Whanne shallow brooke yrenneth hobling on, So my sely rhimes, whoso may them note, He ceas'd his homely rhyme. When COLIN CLOUT, Eliza's shepherd swain, I. "Ah! luckless swain, alas! how art thou lorn, Who once like me couldst frame thy pipe to play Shepherds devise, and chear the ling'ring morn: Ne bush, ne breere, but learnt thy roundelay. Ah plight too sore such worth to equal right! Ah worth too high to meet such piteous plight! II. "But I nought strive, poor Colin, to compare My Hobbin's, or my Thenot's rustic skill To thy deft Swains, whose dapper ditties rare Surpass ought else of quaintish shepherd's quill. Ev'n Roman Tytyrus, that peerless wight, Mote yield to thee for dainties of delight. III. "Eke when in Fable's flow'ry path you stray'd, Masking in cunning feints Truth's splendent face; Ne Sylph, ne Sylphid, but due tendance paid, To shield Belinda's lock from felon base, But all mote nought avail such harm to chase, Than Una fair 'gan droop her princely mein, Eke Florimel, and all my Faery race: Belinda far surpast by beauties sheen, Belinda, subject meet for such soft lay I ween. IV. "Like as in villag'd troop of birdlings trim, Where Chanticleer his red crest high doth hold, And quaking Ducks, that wont in lake to swim, And Turkeys proud, and Pigeons nothing bold; If chance the Peacock doth his plumes unfold, Eftsoons their meaner beauties all decaying, He glist'neth purple, and he glist'neth gold, Now with bright green, now blue himself arraying. Such is thy beauty bright, all other beauties swaying. V. "But why do I descant this toyish rhyme, And fancies light in simple guise pourtray? Listning to chear thee at this rueful time, While as black Death doth on thy heartstrings prey. Yet rede aright, and if this friendly lay Thou nathless judgest all too slight and vain, Let my well-meaning mend my ill essay: |